A Dog-day afternoon in a NU era
by rick olivares
“Have a good one,” said National University Head Coach Eric Gonzales who touched fists with assistant Jeff Napa prior to the start of the Bulldogs’ Fil Oil Invitational match with Mapua yesterday May 13, 2010 at the San Juan Arena.
The Bulldogs, a much-revamped line-up from the previous year, were at 0-2, heading into the game. The two losses were contrasting. In the first outing the JRU Heavy Bombers blew them off the court with a fiery third quarter for a 72-56 victory and in their second match they lost 72-65 to the San Sebastian Golden Stags when their execution failed in the final two minutes.
The coaching staff and management have been feverishly working hard to rid the team of its losing psyche. No motivational tool can do the job for sure because business has to be taken care on the court but it’s a start.
They recently went to the United States for training and for bonding. There’s nothing like a long road trip for the team to come together and feel special. “Grabe yung suporta ng management,” gushed second-year guard Kokoy Hermosisima who is expected to lead the team. “Malaking bagay ‘to sa morale at sa team.”
In the backroom now that they’re home, video is spliced of their recent games to show the team what went wrong – a reversal to the old ways of playing one-on-one as opposed to a team game. But they also end by showing the team of what it did right. “Good cheer,” as Gonzales, the former assistant to Binky Favis with the Coca Cola Tigers, likes to say. “We need to hear a different voice, a more positive one. Down na nga, so we cannot let them hear negative words all the time.”
Incredulously, the Bulldogs are one of the UAAP’s perennial fastbreak teams. But that doesn’t mean squat when they make poor decisions in running down the floor. “What we’re trying to do is help them make the right decisions. For the guards to see who is open and to give up the ball. Aanhin nila yung maraming puntos pero talon a naman?”
The game against Mapua started well as NU took a sizeable lead. Emmanuel Mbe, the 6’7” Cameroonian who has slid into the center slot wreaked havoc inside. He only has been playing organized basketball in the last few years and the coaching staff believes that he will be an inside force when he achieves his potential. But stamina is important. The Cameroonian sweats a lot. He checked out with the first quarter winding down and received low fives from the bench for a job well done (they were up 16-10 at that point). He looked tuckered out. The trainer offered a cup of water that he politely declined. “Gatorade, please,” he asked. “As he drank copious amounts of the sports drink, Napa reminded him to pace himself well and to pick his spots. They need him on the floor.
True enough, without Mbe inside, Mapua began their run. With Mbe and Ponferrada on the bench, Cardinal guard TG Guillermo found the coast clear for drive bys. The moment had not been seized. The lead is sliced to two at the half 35-33. By the end of the 3rd Quarter, Mapua had the lead 54-49. They had gotten their confidence going.
Gonzales looked to his bench and pointed to his temple, “Positive thinking. Don’t give up,” he exhorted as he was aware of his team’s penchant for ill-timed and predictable fold-ups. “Laban tayo!”
Forward-center Jewel Ponferrada had a miserable Season 72 in the UAAP. Unable to replicate the inside presence of the graduated Edwin Asoro, he was short on his fuse and clashed with his teammates. Most notably team captain Mervin Baloran during their second round match with Ateneo in of all places – their own bench during a timeout.
It’s in the past but the present needs a win, a change of attitudes, and an iron will.
Ponferrada has worked well in a supporting role. He thrived when Asoro was in uniform as he played clean up by swatting shots and putting back shots. He even led NU in game dunks. With Mbe inside, Ponferrada had two crucial blocks and three-pointers – one at the left corner pocket and the second at the top of the rainbow arc. But a missed free throw left a window for Mapua to come back.
Teammate Ajeet Singh also missed a free throw and could only tie the match at 68-all with time down to 4.7 seconds. The missed free throw was crucial because not only was the ball not taken out for an inbound and a timeout not called but the Cardinals took advantage of the Bulldogs who did not get down quickly on defense.
Veteran Cardinal guard Allan Mangahas who had played poorly all game long heaved an uncontested shot from slightly past halfcourt that went in at the buzzer. It was an improbable 71-68 win that gave Mapua its first win in five outings. Singh, disbelieving at what had transpired, stood with his arms akimbo with his eyes bulging in half-horror and shock.
Point guard Joseph Terso, himself a rapidly improving player, patted Singh on the head and led him to the bench.
Gonzales needed a few seconds to comprehend what had happened before he saw his counterpart, Mapua coach Chito Victolero coming over for the post-game handshake. “A lesson to be learned,” he muttered on his way out. “That we have to play defense for a full 40 minutes.”
MIT 71 – Guillermo 16, Mangahas 9, Cinco 8, Cornejo 8, Acosta 6, Banal 5, Stevens 5, Maniego 5, Pascual 4, Ranises 3, Parala 2, Sarangay 0
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