Steering the National University Lady Bulldogs to another season sweep in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament has been a fulfilling experience for head coach Pat Aquino.
And what makes it even better for the mentor is seeing how his players had showed the same intensity from the first game all the way to the championship clincher Sunday.
“I am so happy, especially sa seniors ko. Every time, they had to step up. I am just happy nakuha ulit namin yung back to back na sweep,” the delighted Aquino said, who added that it was a collective effort which made the run possible for the Lady Bulldogs.
“I couldn’t make it on my own. (It’s credit) to how we recruited, how we made this team, and how we prepared the team. Sobrang tuwang-tuwa ako. I didn’t expect na magiging ganito. I just told them to take it one game at a time. Talagang thankful lang ako na they were really hungry for it.”
Now bracing for the departure of key players like Shelley Gupilan, Tin Abriam, Andrea Tongco, and Sam Paig, Aquino says he is confident the newcomers will fill in the void as the team heads to another campaign next year.
“We will still continue what we are doing. We will go out of the country. And I don’t think (the losses) will be a big difference. We are ready for the (departure of seniors) in the past seasons. We have rookies coming in. The program still continues,” Aquino shared.
Still basking in the glory of winning back-to-back titles, Aquino and the rest of the Lady Bulldogs have set their eyes on a three-peat, while continuing to raise the level of women’s hoops in the country.
