NU to prove preseason was no fluke

RAY PARKS of National University. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines – One by one, National University picked apart every team in its path.

UST, Ateneo, De La Salle and even San Sebastian had no escape as NU went 11-0 to clinch the FilOil title.

But in spite of NU’s glorified summer, there is one championship that really matters.

“Again, UAAP is UAAP,” head coach Eric Altamirano told INQUIRER.net. “I’m not downplaying anything but it’s just the preseason. Everybody is just trying to feel each other out.”

“When we started our training after last season, our goal was really to win in the UAAP, it just so happened that we won in the FilOil,” added the former National Youth team mentor.

The Bulldogs’ preseason dominance though, still can’t and won’t be taken for granted. If anything else, it’s a sign, a prelude of things to come.

The rest of the UAAP has heeded the warning, they know what’s coming. Even Norman Black, who aims to steer Ateneo to its fifth straight title, is fully aware of what NU is capable of.

“NU is going to be a force to reckon with,” said Black.

In fact, all coaches had the Bulldogs as one of the teams to beat this Season 75.

Why not? With reigning MVP Ray Parks getting even better during the off-season, along with a solid supporting cast headed by chiseled center Emmanuel Mbe, NU, a punchline of a team for its losing seasons, is a joke no more.

“I think he [Parks] has improved his outside shooting and he got used with the physicality of the game. Last year he is quite bothered with it and what he did was he bulked up to avoid getting bothered with getting bumped,” said Altamirano. “This year he already knows what to expect, how teams will defend him, how players will defend him.”

“He continues to push himself and find ways where he can improve his skills, shooting, defense and that’s one of the reasons why the team really looks up to him as a leader,” added Altamirano, whose team will kick off its Season 75 campaign with a relatively light opponent in University of the East in the opener on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

More than the new found stroke that virtually makes Parks impossible to stop, his maturity has also allowed him to become a leader and be an example to a young core primed for big things.

“One thing I told the team and also Ray. He has to start being vocal in leading the team and I think he’s been doing it now,” Altamirano said.

“I have never seen him relax in practice whether he’s in pain or not, sometimes I’ll be the one to tell him to rest. He doesn’t slack off during practices, if he’s struggling on his shooting he’ll spend extra time to work on it because he knows his responsibilities to the team. The reason why he’s good and successful is because of his attitude.”

And Parks, perhaps the best collegiate player in the country today, despite just being 18 years old, knows the importance of his leadership to the success of his team.

“I just got to be leader on the court. It doesn’t matter if I score five, 10, or 30 as long as I can lead this team that’s what we need right now,” said Parks.

Still unseen though is how this young team can deal with the immense pressure brought about by the expectations of a title, which has eluded the institution for over 50 years.

Last season, NU placed fifth but there was far less pressure compared to now.

“Last year we were a very one-dimensional team and over the off-season we really assessed our strengths and weaknesses.”

“We’ve been working on our shooting everyday in training camp. We spend time with that because we know that was our Achilles heel last year and also our turnovers.”

NU had a taste of sweet victory when it dismantled La Salle in the FilOil Finals and that only made the team want more.

The Bulldogs haven’t had this kind of attention for the right reasons and wisely, Altamirano constantly reminds his players to not get caught up with the spur of the moment.

“The reason why these teams are saying we’re favorites because we won the FilOil but to keep us on our feet, we just always remember our record last year.”

NU only won five games last season and still had stints where it looked like the whipping team of old.

But that was then. NU will continue to rely on Parks’ all-around game and this time with more help with the addition of former St. Benilde swingman Mark de Guzman.

Altamirano doesn’t want to guarantee anything. It’s the good ‘ol one game at a time cliche.

“We just want to have a better season than last year and make it to the Final Four.”

One thing’s for sure: The undefeated FilOil run, being this year’s hosts along with the unveiling of the mega structure MOA Arena, everything seems to be falling into place for NU to win and there’s no better time than now.