UP head coach Bo Perasol during a huddle. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Coach Bo Perasol rued the UP Fighting Maroons’ inexperience in the 80-69 loss to National University Saturday in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament.
“We were there in the game, it all boiled down again to inexperience,” said Perasol at Mall of Asia Arena. “We were not able to make those stops. We were able to make shots but ahead na sila in that particular time.”
NU had a comfortable 55-46 lead at the start of the fourth before UP made a frantic run to cut it to just 59-57.
But that was the closest the Fighting Maroons would get as the Bulldogs rallied back with an 11-2 run for 70-59 lead with 2:50 left in the game.
Perasol, though, could not lose his temper against his team who, he said, has been busting their behinds in practice.
“I can’t be angry with them, I can’t be mad,” said Perasol whose team dipped to 1-5. “I really think they’ve pushed themselves. We we’re not able to get crucial stops at the end.”
Perasol added the team’s 1-6 record is something they can improve on in the second round.
“I was so afraid that we’re going to end up 0-7, and we’re fortunate to get one win,” said Perasol. “I hope that we can get some more in the second round.”