Bajar on UP slump: ‘We have to believe that we can win’

UP head coach Rensy Bajar. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines’ campaign in the 78th UAAP Season has been on a downward spiral since its 2-0 start.

Last month’s winning start is now a distant past for the Fighting Maroons, now losers of five straight after a stunning loss to the Adamson Falcons on Sunday.

“For the past five games, the guys have been very emotional,” UP head coach Rensy Bajar said in Filipino following the Maroons’ 73-68 defeat that gave the Falcons’ their first win of the season. “This is the time where we need to find out how to overcome our struggles and defy our low morale.”

READ: Adamson posts first win, adds woes to UP

UP beat University of the East in its season-opener before toppling Season 76 champion De La Salle University next. But winning more has become a seemingly insurmountable task for the Maroons and Bajar thinks it’s because his team has earned the rest of the league’s respect.

“They’re not looking at us as pushovers. They’re respecting UP in our last five games,” said Bajar, who also cited that his players’ immaturity is showing during the tough stretch that the team is currently in.

Bajar believes the Maroons have what it takes to recover from the slump and that turning their fortunes around starts within the players’ mindset.

“I told them the same thing, ‘we have to push ourselves to the limit,’” Bajar said. “Nobody expected us to be here. We just have to challenge ourselves to get the win every game, and our heart should always be there.”

“We have to believe that we can win.”