“We will’t do something about it anymore, we’re undermanned. However so long as we nonetheless compete, that’s what’s necessary,” coach Jeff Napa mentioned with a mixture of Filipino after the win at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. “I advised them to complete this season robust, that’s our mindset for now.”
It was the largest chunk that the Bulldogs got here up with of their underwhelming season, which has come after years of contending for the highest two spots on the very least and for the title on a number of events.
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Nationwide rose to 3-8 and nonetheless remained on the tail finish of the eight-team pack, however the Bulldogs will bear in mind this one because the win stymied the Maroons of their bid to wrest No. 1 spot from defending champion La Salle after UP dropped to 9-2. La Salle stays within the lead at 10-1.
“We executed our sport plan correctly, that’s why we obtained the W,” Napa added. “We aren’t considering anymore whether or not we will nonetheless enter the Remaining 4 or what. My solely request to my gamers is to complete the season effectively.
“Lastly, we obtained a win within the second spherical, even when it’s the [holiday break for] the useless, my gamers got here alive in some way they usually delivered on what we have to do then they actually loved what we’re doing,” Napa added.
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UP was restricted to a sorry 26.2 capturing from the ground and 30 turnovers, whereas NU selected its photographs fastidiously on the best way to a really efficient 43.9 % clip, making seven from past the arc.
First probability slips
5 of these treys got here from Patrick Yu, who was very environment friendly by draining six of his eight makes an attempt general on the best way to 17 factors. Jake Figueroa contributed 11 factors and 6 rebounds.
The Maroons let their first probability to clinch the final accessible twice-to-beat armor with the loss because the Inexperienced Archers bagged the primary win-once benefit after Far Jap manhandled No. 3 crew College of the East within the earlier sport.
“Like what coach Jeff mentioned, we should always simply benefit from the sport and take away the strain of chasing the Remaining 4 and I’m grateful to him as a result of even when I used to be struggling the entire season, he nonetheless trusted me,” Yu mentioned.
Far Jap, in the meantime, scored a 59-51 overcome No. 3 College of the East to rise to 4-7 and keep within the semifinal hunt.
The Tamaraws nonetheless have three video games left—possibilities to earn extra wins that might propel them up the Remaining 4, which might be a bonus since they set out simply to enhance on their three victories final season.
“Subsequent on the record is La Salle. Our objective this season was to point out progress,” Sean Chambers, who took over at first of the season, mentioned after his wards dealt the Crimson Warriors a second-straight loss in a 6-5 card.
“We needed to win greater than three video games from final yr,” Chambers mentioned of the season goal. “So after that, now we wish to get grasping. Now we wish to get 5, six, seven video games.
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“In order that’s our objective now. We wish to proceed to point out this type of efficiency for the remainder of the season, which I believe we’re able to.” INQ
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