The National University Bulldogs are in danger of being knocked out of the elimination round for the first time since 2011, the rookie year of former NU star Gelo Alolino.
With just three games remaining in their schedule, the cagers from Jhocson Street are a full 1.5 games behind the Adamson University Soaring Falcons for the fourth spot. To make matters worse, they are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, including a stunning loss to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.
According to coach Eric Altamirano, their struggles this season can be attributed to the youth of this batch of Bulldogs.
“This is part of the growing pains of having a young team,” he said.
“We don’t have a guy like Gelo Alolino who can stabilize the team.”
Alolino, who helped lead the Bulldogs to Final Four finishes and a championship, admitted that it pains him to see his collegiate team in this state.
“Last time, I wanted to watch live kaso dun sa mga commitment sa practices ako and I have to prepare myself [for the draft]. Pero, I think, yung familiarity in each and everyone hindi pa ganun unlike before nung time namin,” he shared. “Sa system, I always believe sa system ni coach Eric [Altamirano].”
“I think siguro yung small details nawawala. Siguro, naninibago pa yung new guys. Yung veterans nagkakaroon na ng personal struggles tapos hindi maka-cope up yung mga new guys.”
When he was told of Altamirano’s statement of not having a “Gelo Alolino” this season, the PBA lottery pick could not help but reminisce about his collegiate days.
“Ang balik ko naman ngayon wala na akong Coach Eric to guide me. Hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap,” he shared.
“Uulitin ko, gameplan-wise, si Coach Eric proven yan. We won a championship then yung bago nun, for three years binibigay nila Coach Eric, Coach Joey [Guanio], and coach Vic [Icasiano], binibigay nila lahat. Ang ina-ask na lang nila sa amin is to deliver.”
But he feels that the lack of big-game experience of the young Bulldogs is the cause of NU’s struggles especially with almost the entire league employing a pressing defensive scheme.
“Pero nahirapan sila maka-execute kasi almost all of the teams right now are pressing,” he shared. “Hindi ko naman masasabi na lack of weapons pero being consistent yung kulang. Like who will step up for this game and the next game.”
But the 22-year-old remains hopeful that King Bulldog Alfred Aroga and the Bulldogs can turn it around.
“Alfred is like my younger and older brother, a mix. We can advice each other anytime. We talk kahit malayo kami sa isa’t isa. As a teammate before, hindi na lang as a brother, Alfred I think had a good UAAP career,” he shared.
“Sadly lang na it may happen [they won’t make the Final Four] pero there is a possibility pa naman na makapasok sila sa Final Four. Dumaan na rin kami diyan na lahat do-or-die, dumaan kami sa butas ng karayom.”
“Think positive na lang. Don’t let the negativity affect them,” he declared.
