Pounding UP, a team seeking a twice-to-beat advantage, is just the result of the NU Bulldogs’ desire to finish their UAAP Season 87 campaign on a high note.
The NU Bulldogs are no longer stressing about their Final Four chances despite gaining a sliver of hope from their 67-47 blowout of the UP Fighting Maroons.
The Bulldogs on Sunday pulled off Season 87’s biggest upset to date through a wire-to-wire victory that led to UP’s lowest scoring output in eight years, along with their worst turnover (30) rate since head coach Goldwin Monteverde took over in 2022.
With a 3-8 record, the Bulldogs have a narrow shot of entering the Final Four as they trail two games behind fourth-seeded UST with a 5-6 slate.
But head coach Jeff Napa was first to brush off a late playoff push, and would rather have his Bulldogs end their UAAP Season 87 campaign on a high note.
“Andon na tayo, wala na tayong magagawa. We’re undermanned eh…Pero as long as we compete pa rin, ‘yun ‘yung importante doon. Then sinabi ko naman sa kanila talaga, let’s finish strong this season,” said Napa, referring to foreign student athlete Mo Diassana’s ACL injury in their season opener against La Salle.
“Yun ‘yung mindset muna namin, basta ginawa namin nang tama ‘yung gameplan namin, nakuha namin ‘yung W. So ‘di na namin iniisip kung papasok pa kami or whatever. Ang sinabi ko lang, pakiusap ko lang sakanila is tapusin namin nang maganda ‘yung season. Ayoko nang…Dagdag pressure kumbaga na kailangan habulin namin nang habulin ‘yung Final Four.”
From being surefire playoff contenders under Napa, the Bulldogs were left to pick up the pieces for Season 87 after Diassana tore his ACL minutes into his UAAP debut last September 8 against the Archers.
Forced to go all-Filipino, the Bulldogs struggled in late-game situations as they dropped several close games throughout the season. In between their heartbreakers was a 27-point blowout to the Fighting Maroons in Round 1, and a 16-point loss to the UE Red Warriors early into Round 2.
Yet when faced against a mighty foe, the Bulldogs came alive to score the major upset. On top of clamping down the Maroons, senior Patrick Yu had a breakout game with 17 points built on five triples, while Jake Figueroa added 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
“Yun nga, ‘yung sabi sakin ni Coach Jeff na enjoyin nalang, enjoy lang. Tanggalin ‘yung pressure na papasok ng Final Four. Tas ‘yun, laking pasasalamat lang ako kay Coach Jeff kasi isipin mo, buong season sobrang struggling ako pero may tiwala pa rin siya sakin,” said Yu.
Figueroa, meanwhile, was glad to see their one-week preparation pay off against UP.
“Yung one week na preparation namin, si coach sobrang strict. ‘Yun nga, luckily nakuha namin ‘yung panalo…Kasi konting pagkakamali mo lang, sisigaw si coach. So mindset talaga namin is i-approach namin bilang veterans…Approach nang maayos ‘yung mga rookies namin. And ‘yun, nagawa naman nila nang maayos ‘yung mga sinabi namin,” reflected Figueroa.
With three games left in their campaign, the seniors lamented not being able to adjust in time following Diassana’s freak injury.
“Sobrang tagal ‘yung ‘pag adjust namin. ‘Yun lang siguro, mas maaga lang sana,” said Yu.
“Yun nga, sabi ni Pat na sobrang aga nawala ng import namin. So hindi naman kami prepared nila Coach Jeff na mawalan nang isa…Alam mo ‘yun? Disappointed lahat. Pero pilit kaming lalaban,” added Figueroa.
Napa, though, refused to cry over spilled milk. After all, the situation was out of everyone’s control and it was never an excuse to stop competing for the season.
On top of this, the Bulldogs mentor never lost faith in his wards either.
“Kung ano ‘yung binigay samin ni Lord, blessed na kami don, ‘yun na ‘yon. Hindi ‘yung para gawin kong rason na nawalan kami ng import. Ever since naman, hindi ko ginagawang rason ‘yun. Kaya nga lagi akong galit sa kanila eh, kasi alam na alam ko kung ano ‘yung capabilities nila. So still, ‘yun lang. Hanggang sa matapos ‘yung season na ‘to, lalaban at lalaban pa rin kami,” he said.
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.