Jamike Jarin. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Just when National University thought it was about to get its first win, University of Santo Tomas decided to bare its teeth and take the game in overtime, 87-74, in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament.
NU guard Enzo Joson nailed a go-ahead layup, 70-68, with 6.5 seconds left but the Bulldogs celebrated too early, allowing UST’s Mark Nonoy to go the length of floor and find Soulemane Chabiyo for the tying basket with 2.1 seconds to play.
It was Growling Tigers in the extra frame as they outscored the stunned Bulldogs, 17-4.
“You just learn from your mistakes, we were just too overwhelmed with the situation,” said Jarin Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The loss sent the Bulldogs to a 0-3 record with all of their losses coming in heartbreaking fashion.
NU opened the season with an 84-83 loss to Adamson University at the buzzer while the second was an 83-82 setback to De La Salle on another game winner. Their latest defeat saw the Bulldogs squander a five-point lead, 68-63, with 42.3 seconds to play after shooting themselves in the foot with careless miscues–a five-second inbound violation and an eight-second violation–both against Joson.
Nevertheless, Jarin doesn’t want to point fingers at anyone and instead, he wants his players to focus on the lessons learned and be better.
“I don’t play the blame game, these are young men, and you teach them the right things,” said Jarin. “I’m sure he’s a smart kid, not only him but everybody, and I’m sure he understands what his mistakes are and it’ll make him better.”