NATIONAL University (NU) Head Coach Eric Altamirano is known in the basketball circle as one of the most charismatic coaches in the country.
And, no doubt, he believes in prayers. But at this point in time, he wanted his Bulldogs not to only pray but also walk the talk, as NU is in danger of a major collapse in Season 79 of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.
Altamirano admitted that his Bulldogs are in big trouble after they absorbed a 66-71 loss to the surging University of the Philippines (UP) on Wednesday, the team’s sixth straight defeat.
“Kailangan ng dasal at gawa,” said Altamirano, whose Bulldogs are now tied with the Fighting Maroons for the fifth spot in the team standings at 4-8 win-loss mark each.
“We’re in deep hole now and I feel for the boys. But we have to continue to practice. Mahirap. We just have to take care of our last two games,” he added.
NU started the season like a real Final Four contender, winning four of its first six games. But everything went south for them since then, absorbing losses in games they were supposed to win.
The loss of center Matthew Aquino due to eligibility was a factor on their downfall, but Altamirano did not want to make any excuse as their focus now is to get back on the winning track.
“More than making the Final Four, our concern now is makabalik lang kami sa panalo ulit,” said Altamirano, whose last two assignments are against University of the East on November 5 and Adamson University on November 13.
“Medyo mahaba nga ang lull ng last two games namin. I don’t know if there’s an advantage or disadvantage. Our only focus now is to win our next two games.”
De La Salle is the first team to clinch the top 2 spots in the Final Four stage with an unblemished 12-0 mark, while the defending champion Tamaraws (8-2) are already in the semis but need two more wins to clinch the twice-to-beat incentive.
Ateneo de Manila is running third with a 6-4 mark and just needs one more win to cement its spot in the Final Four. The surprising Falcons are at No. 4 with a 5-5 mark and they just need to win two games to return to the Final Four.
For NU, it needs some help from other teams to get a shot for the Final Four spot, but Altamirano wanted his players to help each other to end the skid and forcing a playoff for the No. 4 spot will just be a bonus.
Joel Orellana