The National University Bulldogs had a hard time cracking the win column at the start of 2019.
The UAAP squad suffered tough losses to teams from collegiate leagues UCBL, NCAA, NAASCU, and fellow UAAP squads in off-season tournaments like City Hoops, TIP, and PBA D-League.
But for incoming sophomore Dave Ildefonso, they learned how to lift each other up amid their skid.
“Yun nga, kailangan naming mag-stick together. Always look at the silver lining, kung anong positive sa losses namin, and just really improve each and every day,” the 19-year-old shared.
“Times are hard na kasi slumps and all that. Pero yun nga, sama-sama pa rin kami. We’re still having fun. We’re still getting the job done kahit papano.”
Monday afternoon, SMDC-NU finally broke through in the PBA D-League, blasting Trinity University, 107-75.
And it was all too sweet for Ildefonso and the Bulldogs.
“Siyempre, sobrang saya kami. Nagsisisigaw kami halos eh. Siyempre, kahit na five-straight losses kami, we got this win,” expressed the 6-foot-1 swingman, who is averaging 16.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in six games in the second league.
“One (win)-five (losses) na kami. It’s really a confidence booster heading into the next games. Yun naman kung bakit kami talaga sumali kami dito – [it] is to get more experience and improve ourselves for the upcoming UAAP season.“
There will be little time to celebrate for the Bulldogs, as they next take on the undefeated CEU Scorpions on Thursday.
Ildefonso and the Bulldogs vow to give everything they have to show that they are not yet dead in the water.
“Yun nga, siyempre, nothing to lose naman. (Shaun: Ako dapat best player!) 6-0 sila, 1-5 kami. Young and talented team kami, veteran team sila. Para sa’kin, as an individual, wala akong kinakatakutan kasi mas matanda sila sa’kin at mas bata ako,” he said.
“Nothing to lose ako eh. I have everything to gain.”
