In National University’s first round match-up against University of the East, Steve Nash Enriquez was struck by a stray elbow from Josh Alcantara, dislocating his jaw and sidelining him for a month.
Enriquez had been one of NU’s most reliable players, consistently finding ways to open up the offense with his playmaking and dribble penetration. His performances have made the lives of the Jeff Napa-led squad much easier for the past few years.
Without their Enriquez at the helm, though, the Bulldogs kept themselves afloat in the UAAP Final Four race, en route to a 10-3 record.
On Sunday, Enriquez made his return to NU’s lineup in its final match of the elimination rounds against University of the Philippines, where a twice-to-beat advantage lay in the balance.
It was a bittersweet homecoming for Enriquez, though, as the Maroons demolished his squad, 79-57. The result leaves NU as the third seed, while the Fighting Maroons sealed the number one spot in the standings.
“Siyempre, we feel bad — coaches and players — but again, we don’t have time to feel bad.
“It’s common naman if you lose na masasaktan ka talaga, but the coaches just remind us that we need to bounce back. Focus na lang kung ano yung susunod, focus on the solution kung anong problema. Coming Final Four, gagawin namin best namin,” shared Enriquez.
Despite the blowout loss, a silver lining for the 5-foot-9 floor general from Cebu was the opportunity to make his return against one of the top teams in the UAAP in UP, giving him an immediate challenge to get his legs back under him.
“Actually magandang experience, diba? Kalaban agad UP. But again it’s a blowout, masama lang.
“Yun talaga yung kailangan sa ano ko din, I need to go back para makatulong sa team kahit papaano. Ayaw na ayaw kong makita yung team natatalo at wala akong maitutulong. Ganoon talaga yung nangyari so, focus na lang kung ano yung susunod na pagsubok,” Enriquez explained.
Returning at the end of the elimination rounds was a much better option for Enriquez compared to the alternative, where he would’ve come back straight into the fires of the Final Four against a dominant De La Salle University team.
“Sobrang valuable kasi agad-agad. Four weeks ako nawala, so agad UP kalaban,” explained the third year guard who is making his second Final Four appearance.
“Magandang experience iyon coming into the Final Four against La Salle, so we don’t know anong mangyayari, but it is what it is.”
With Enriquez back and fully healthy, the Bulldogs turn their attention to the Green Archers as they search for any and every weapon to help them chip away at La Salle’s twice-to-beat advantage.
