National University hopes that the feeling of victory after disappointment with UP will continue through the weekend. —UAAP MEDIA
They don’t attract headlines like their counterparts in the UAAP women’s contest. But the Bulldogs of the National University (NU) certainly won the right to join the “big boys” group in the men’s tournament.
“If you want to be part of the big boys, you have to challenge yourself to prove that you are one of the big boys,” coach Jeff Napa told his players ahead of their biggest win. of NU so far in the Season. 85. “To compete, we have to keep up with the big boys for us to be recognized.”
The 80-75 win over the defending champion University of the Philippines last Wednesday certainly got everyone’s attention.
Now that they’ve caught everyone’s attention, Bulldogs have to find a way to keep it.
For starters, they couldn’t treat the Adamson University Falcons as lightly as they did the Maroons. The two teams clash at 4pm on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena, and if NU needs a cautionary tale, they only have to look at the other nasty match faked last Wednesday.
Powerhouse La Salle, which is on the rise, has finally emerged under the whip of rival Ateneo, facing the University of the East (UE).
The Red Warriors had little chance against the Archers, who were supposed to come and make a match to win over the Eagles.
But the Paranada brothers, Kyle and Nikko, had other plans, hitting the clutch basket to complete an 81-74 comeback.
“I have challenged them in tunneling before; As part of this season, we [need to] beat a big team like La Salle,” said UE coach Jack Santiago.
UP vs Ateneo
The Archers will attempt to recover from that shock loss when they face the unbeaten Far Eastern U Tamaraws at 2pm The Men’s League will kick off the weekend’s matches with a battle between Ateneo and the University Philippines, both 3-1 (win-lose), on Sunday. If the Bulldogs win, they will guarantee themselves a 4-1 lead next week.
The Bulldogs are no longer the popular roster on the NU campus. After all, the Lady Bulldogs have only recorded their 100th straight win and are unbeaten in nine years holding UAAP. However, the rise to the top after this weekend will be huge. And Napa knows what it will take to stay there.
“The challenge is how to fit the identity they have established today. Even if Tim Cone was going to coach this team but these players wouldn’t have the desire to win, it wouldn’t make any sense,” he said. INQ
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