Alfred Aroga nailed the game-winning basket in National University’s 55-54 win over UST Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Relief washed over the faces of the defending champions as they finally found a breakthrough in a season that had started out as testy—to say the least.
As loss after loss piled up, National University stopped thinking about defending their title and started focusing on getting that one win to get their season going.
“I just told the boys don’t be defined by the losses; keep working hard and playing together,” coach Eric Altamirano said after the Bulldogs snapped their three-game skid by the slimmest of margins versus the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 55-54, Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena. It wasn’t the way the Bulldgos had wanted to crack the win column.
Looking hesitant with each passing second, center Alfred Aroga backed off the defense of UST’s Karim Abdul until he was left with no other shot but a Hail Mary from the corner.
The shot went in, freezing the scoreboard to its final count with 14.7 seconds remaining.
“Coach told me to get the ball, just attack the basket,” the Cameroonian center revealed. “We didn’t execute properly. I just took it and it went in, and I said ‘Sarap yan (That was good).’”
Altamirano and the Bulldogs, however, will gladly take the win. “It’s always hard when you don’t win,” said Altamirano. “We put ourselves in this situation, but I told the boys that we’re going to come back. Just do not waver, remain steadfast.”
The Bulldogs needed to. At the top of the standings was a UST squad that had hoped to stay in the solo lead with a fourth straight win.
Instead, the Tigers had to share the early lead.
With them are the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who continued their march from a horrible opening day beat-down with a 77-72 nipping of the gung-ho University of the East squad.
“I think that we had gotten our bearings back,” said Ateneo coach Bo Perasol.
“But I’m not saying we’re in our highest potential. I believe we can do better.”
It was the third straight victory for Ateneo, which helped the Eagles soar to the top after losing to FEU on opening day.
Noticeably missing from the top half of the standings? National U.
Saturday’s victory gave them a 1-3 card, half a game out of last place.
As if to best illustrate NU’s predicament before the game, the Bulldogs were tied with the Adamson Falcons, the team that finished last on the year the Bulldogs reigned supreme.
Right now, though, that matters little to Altamirano.
“This is a big thing,” said Altamirano. “When you’re down 0-4, it affects the morale of the boys. These are still young men, so their confidence gets easily shattered.”
The scores:
First Game
ATENEO 77—Pessumal 21, Ravena 15, Gotladera 9, Ikeh 8, Apacible 6, Nieto 5, Wong 5, Babilonia 4, Black 2, Capacio 2, Cani 0, Pingoy 0, Tolentino 0.
UE 72—Batiller 19, Javier 17, Abanto 6, Charcos 5, Derige 5, Palma 5, Varilla 5, De Leon 4, Yu 4, Sta. Ana 4, Gagate 0, Gonzales 0, Manalang 0.
Quarters: 15-17, 43-33, 63-50, 77-72
Second Game
NU 55—Aroga 19, Alejandro 9, Abatayo 8, Diputado 7, Neypes 6, Alolino 2, Javelona 2, Salim 2, Celda 0, Javillonar 0, Lastimosa 0, Tansingco 0.
UST 54—Ferrer 14, Abdul 11, Daquioag 9, Lao 8, Lee 6, Bonleaon 3, Vigil 3, Faundo 0, Huang 0, Sheriff 0, Subido 0.
Quarters: 17-17, 33-26, 41-43, 55-54