Missed chances

Kokoy Hermosisima sat on a chair inside the National University Bulldogs' locker room at the Philsports Arena. The sweat dripped profusely from his face and onto the floor. Head coach Eric Gonzales addressed his team while all other team and school officials remained outside but Hermosisima couldn't hear his words. He looked at his bandaged shooting hand that had betrayed him at the worst possible time. He shook his head and muttered an expletive. Next to him sat forward-center Jewel Ponferrada who had his right hand wrapped in ice. His middle finger got caught in an opposing player's jersey and nearly wrenched from its socket. 

The players hardly spoke. If you think that they were satisfied with pushing the heavily favored FEU Tamaraws to the brink then you are mistaken. They've got a new mindset. They aren't here as foils but they believe that they can contend and make it to the Final Four and hopefully beyond. Team captain Mervin Baloran sat quietly as well but rather than hold his head down like Hermosisima, the former was immensely proud of his team. "Hindi na kami talunan at tambakan ng ibang team."

Outside, Athletics Director Junel Baculi rued the missed shot but he chose to look at the positives. "Experience in this situation... yun lang and better decisions. But we are getting there." he said. 

The Bulldogs now tote a 1-2 record. Their two loses saw them fold in the endgame. A few feet away from the dugout, former PBA all-great import Bobby Parks liked what he saw. "A closer." he enunciated. "What this team needs is a closer." He was thinking of the day his son Ray joins this talented Bulldogs team and leads them to the Promised Land.

Center Emmanuel Mbe quietly dressed behind Ponferrada's locker. He spoke briefly with Gonzales who congratulated him for his effort. In a short span of time, in halting English, he has come to understand what the game of basketball means to this country. To say that the loss didn't bother him is wrong. He does think about it but he is still new to the game. It wasn't even 12 months ago when he had difficulty dribbling the ball without looking at it. But he was immensely talented and team officials liked his potential. "I am learning," he said. Woe to the league when he finally gets in full Terminator mode.

Assistant Coach Jeff Napa knows a thing or two about close finishes. He played on a Bulldogs team that made the Final Four after all. He poured through the stats and immediately began taking down notes. "Darating din tayo doon," he promised.

As Hermosisima left the Philsports Arena aboard the NU team bus, some well wishers greeted him. He smiled back and offered his thanks. Right before he left the arena, he looked back at the court and swished an imaginary ball through the net. "Next time."

And they were gone.

Post Notes: There are teams that I really enjoy following or writing about. The NU Bulldogs are one of them. I can say that I feel right at home and at ease when I am with them. There are a lot of good stories to tell. I just wish I had the time. But watch out soon... got something on Mapua's Allan Mangahas, Arellano University's Leo Anquilo, the JRU Heavy Bombers (these guys are real cool), UP's Mike Silungan and Woody Co, and Adamson's Alex Nuyles.