National University Bulldogs head coach Eric Altamirano was visibly saddened with the UAAP board’s ruling that meant transferee Matthew Aquino ineligible for the 79th season of the UAAP.
“I just feel bad for him,” the 50-year-old mentor said about Aquino after the Bulldogs’ win over the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles. “He is a guy who diligently studies and he just wants to get better as a basketball player.”
“It’s very frustrating. Kawawa naman yung bata. Very unfortunate [yung nangyari].”
Heading into the season, the National University, with their loaded line-up, were pegged as one of the teams that have a fighting chance against the De La Salle University Green Archers. However, with the 6’9″ center sitting out another year pending an appeal, the Bulldogs suffered a huge blow to regain the crown according to the UAAP champion coach.
“Malaking kawalan definitely,” Altamirano lamented. “I’m just happy na nananalo kami kahit wala siya but down the line we really need him. Especially we are facing La Salle in our next game.”
“He backs-up Alfred kasi. Good thing Tzaddy [Rangel] is helping us a little bit.”
With no power to do anything, the NU mentor is leaving their next move to the school’s officials and the team’s management.
“I’ll leave it to the management,” he concluded.
“I just want to focus on basketball and sila na bahala sa management decisions.”
