Bulldogs, Tigers eye to close out first round tied at the top
Joint pacesetters National U and University of Santo Tomas try to keep in step as they close out their first round stints in Season 88 of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament eliminations, but it won’t be easy for both, even as they face struggling sides.
The Bulldogs battle Ateneo in the 2 p.m. game, with the Blue Eagles shooting to put behind the bitter taste of a three-overtime loss to the Growling Tigers last week, with Santo Tomas looking for a follow-up to that triumph against the defense-oriented Adamson Falcons in the 4:30 p.m. match.
“We will play with more intensity because for us, this is it,” National U assistant coach Vic Ycasiano said in Filipino. “I think the players are ready, and we’ve been working much harder in practice lately. Our preparations have been more intense, too, so they know what to do and don’t panic in different situations.”
The Eagles have actually lost their last two games after a 4-0 start, but coach Tab Baldwin knows that better things are up for his squad.
“A little hard to think about right now. You know, this is the kind of game that, win or lose, you’ve got to kind of absorb it,” Baldwin had said after the marathon loss. “It takes a bit of time. Fortunately, we have a week to prepare for NU.
“This has been one of the toughest weeks that I can remember in my time in the UAAP. We have to face La Salle, UP and UST in six days,” he went on. “We were hoping to get two out of this week. You know, we came pretty bloody close.
“But it’s disappointing not to get two. But we’ve got a week now to prepare for NU. So, we’ll be good. We’ll have our energy back,” Baldwin said. “We’ll put this one behind us. And focus on really the only thing that matters now [and that] is NU.”
Meanwhile, University of the East forward Wello Lingolingo on Thursday and said he had no intention to hurt La Salle guard Kean Baclaan.
“I would like to sincerely apologize to Kean Baclaan, to his family, to his team and to everyone affected by the incident. I am truly sorry sa nangyari,” wrote the UE shooter.
“It was never my intention to hurt anyone. I was simply going for a usual loose-ball dive, something we players instinctively do in the heat of the game.”
Lingolingo was slapped with a three-game suspension because of the play that happened at the 4:20 mark of the fourth quarter of La Salle’s 111-110 overtime win over UE.
Lingolingo also apologized to the league for his actions even as Baclaan as the La Salle faithful and his fans to end the bashing of Lingolingo.
“Guys! Please ‘wag niyo bash si (Wello), sadya man or hindi kasama talaga ‘yan sa larangan na ginagalawan namin, (Guys, please stop bashing Wello. Whether he meant it or not, it’s part of the game.)” wrote Baclaan. —WITH A REPORT FROM ROMMEL R. FUERTES
