NU’s feat a miracle, says Altamirano

“No one could have written a better script.”

Two months after the UAAP championship of National University, coach Eric Altamirano still considers the achievement a miraculous feat.

“We had to go through a lot of adversities,” said Altamirano, noting how his determined Bulldogs survived five knockout matches on the way to bagging their first UAAP men’s basketball title in 60 years.

“I’m thankful they (NU management) continued to believe in us, the program and the system. Of course, I’d like to thank God for this opportunity. No one could have written a better script. It’s something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”

Altamirano received the UAAP Coach of the Year honor and shared the spotlight with NCAA Coach of the Year Boyet Fernandez of five consecutive champion San Beda during the 2014 Collegiate Basketball Awards presented by the UAAP-NCAA Press Corps and Smart on Thursday night at Kamayan-Saisaki Edsa.

Although the Red Lions’ title run looked so easy, Fernandez said the team had to overcome internal struggles, particularly during their uncharacteristic three-game losing skid late in the eliminations.

Fernandez now faces a new challenge as mentor of PBA’s expansion team NLEX.

“I’m going to miss the NCAA,” he said. “I know it will be a tough one for me in the PBA. I hope that I would last longer in the PBA.”

UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo captured the Smart Player of the Year award and also earned a spot in the Collegiate Mythical Team along with NCAA MVP Earl Thompson of Perpetual Help, San Beda’s Ola Adeogun, Far Eastern U’s Mac Belo and La Salle’s Jeron Teng.

Other awardees are NU’s Troy Rosario (Doctor J Breakthrough Player), San Beda’s Baser Amer (Accel Court General), NU’s Alfred Aroga and San Beda’s Anthony Semerad (Pivotal Players), NU’s Gelo Alolino and Arellano’s Jiovani Jalalon (Impact Players), and San Beda’s Kyle Pascual, NU’s Glenn Khobuntin and La Salle’s Almond Vosotros (Super Seniors).

The annual recognition dinner, hosted by scribes covering the collegiate beat, was supported by Smart Sports, Accel, Kohl Industries, San Miguel Corp., NLEX, Gatorade, UAAP Season 77 host University of the East, NCAA Season 90 host Jose Rizal University and the Philippine Sportswriters Association.