Enzo Joson of the National University had a mixed day in the office.
With the Bulldogs set to win their first game in the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Tournament, the former Ateneo Blue Eaglet committed two costly turnovers. First was a five-second inbound, then an eight-second backcourt violation, which swung the tide in favor of their opponents, the UST Growling Tigers.
In the game’s dying moments in regulation — and with the scores at 68-68 — Joson bravely sank a lay-up to give his team a two-point edge with only 6.5 second left. His basket provoked the NU camp into wild celebrations, only for UST center Soulemane Chabi Yo to respond in the nick of time at the other end and force overtime.
“Siyempre, I wanted to prove myself din after those two mistakes.
“I asked na akin yung bola nung huli. And then kami actually ni DI (Dave Ildefonso), we were saying na akin yung bola. Sabi niya sa kanya pero I told Sean (Ildefonso) na ibigay niya sa akin. Kasi yun nga, I think I could have done a better job after nung two turnovers ko,” the 21-year-old explained.
The Growling Tigers then went on to prevail 87-74 and seal an impressive victory. They also condemned NU to a three-game slump.
“We can’t bring ourselves down pa. Our mindset is ‘bawi lang talaga’ kasi we’ve been through three games na ganyan ang talo namin. If we push ourselves down, wala talagang mangyayari,” insisted Joson.
“Positive mindset lang.”
All three defeats so far of NU have been disheartening. First was Lenda Douanga’s buzzer-beater, next was Kurt Lojera’s jumper to prevent a meltdown from the De La Salle Green Archers, and then there’s this.
Surely there is nowhere to go but up, right?
The guard reiterated, “Like I said kanina, hindi na namin pwedeng isipin yung negative side eh so we’re on the positive side of thinking na our time will come din. Siyempre, ang malas eh.
“Di ba parang tatlong ganun? Ang sama. We’re just thinking of the brighter side na lang.”
All is not lost for NU, since they are still only in the first round. Still, alarm bells are obviously ringing. Can Joson and the rest of the Bulldogs turn their season around? Joson certainly hopes so.
“I think this is the time that we need to stick together kasi we’ve been down na. The best thing to do is to stick together. Bawi lang kami.”
