NU Bulldogs’ guard Steve Nash Enriquez. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philipines—Kean Baclaan may have been lauded by National University coach Jeff Napa as the Bulldogs’ newest floor general but there is another leader on the horizon.
With Baclaan out due to health concerns on Wednesday, Steve Nash Enriquez stepped up in the backcourt to power the Bulldogs past College of St. Benilde, 88-72, in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Enriquez, though, was willing to take responsibility for whatever outcome was at play.
“My mindset there was really simple. If I’m the one who will make the team lose then I should be the one to make this team win,” Enriquez said in Filipino at San Juan Arena.
“Coach gives me the go signal that ‘you’re the leader,’ so whatever happens to the team, I should be responsible for it.”
NU Bulldogs’ Kean Baclaan. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Enriquez made sure to fill the void Baclaan left with an all-around game of 21 points, four rebounds and four assists. The shifty playmaker also sank four triples in as many tries.
Napa also made sure to acknowledge the 5-foot-9’s heroics.
“[We won] through Nash’s leadership because his partner is absent. We’re down in manpower, we’re incomplete today so I’m happy since his leadership showed up,” the veteran tactician said.
“He still has a lot of mistakes and he knows that he needs to correct those personally but all of those, he takes it positively,” he added.
For the preseason, Enriquez is averaging 8.6 markers, 3.9 dimes and 1.6 boards in 18 minutes of play.
Enriquez’s leadership will be put to the test once more when National University takes on La Salle in the preseason’s semi finals on Monday.
The winner of the all-UAAP affair will go on to the Filoil EcoOil preseason Finals against either University of the Philippines or Perpetual Help.