Photo from UAAP
MANILA, Philippines—National University not only ended the first round of the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament with the worst record, it also had the most heartbreaking losses of any team.
The Bulldogs lost three games by just one point, fell to University of Santo Tomas in overtime, suffered a blowout to Ateneo and was just out of it against University of the East.
The string of losses even led to a hashtag #SadNU trended online and after the Bulldogs’ 78-72 defeat to the Red Warriors, head coach Jamike Jarin couldn’t help but feel dejected.
“It’s very frustrating, of all the losses we’ve had this game against UE was something we deserved to lose,” said Jarin Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “We didn’t show up, the start of the game we were very complacent. We were passive and we didn’t play our usual game. We didn’t defend.”
NU trailed much of the game against the Red Warriors and only put up a semblance of a fight in the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs got to within one, 69-68, after a 9-0 run.
The Red Warriors, however, were quick to retaliate with the help of NU falling apart in the final minute.
Dave Ildefonso was called with an unsportsmanlike foul on Nick Abanto with 46.1 seconds to play and the latter dutifully scored his free throw giving UE a two-possession lead, 76-72.
“We need to recover, fast. This first round is done so we got the second round coming in and we have a week to prepare for it,” said Jarin. “Hopefully, we get it back.”