Do not forget the pain and heartbreak.
This was the message National University Nazareth School head coach Kevin de Castro delivered to his Bullpups ahead of Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Finals against the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
An NU lifer himself, De Castro chose to return to his alma mater as a high school coach starting in Season 85 back in 2023.
However, the past two seasons have been filled with heartbreak and bitter disappointment, with the Bullpups becoming synonymous with runner-up finishes and “almost but not quite” campaigns in UAAP boys’ basketball.
In his first year, NUNS was dethroned by the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws in the Final Four. Then they suffered a grueling three-game series defeat to the Adamson Baby Falcons in Seasons 85 and 86, respectively.
Adding to their frustrations was a humbling 56-76 defeat to UST in the Season 87 elimination round last March 6, denying them an outright Finals berth and serving as a painful reminder of their struggles.
Drawing strength from De Castro’s words, second-year guard Chad Cartel stepped up for the Bullpups just when the Tiger Cubs threatened to take control in crunch time.
Senegalese forward Racine Kane kept UST within striking distance, but the 18-year-old Cartel delivered in the clutch for NUNS.
He drained a crucial long two-pointer and dished out a timely assist to Mac Alfanta for a key layup that extended NUNS’ lead to 76-70 with 1:41 remaining — the dagger that sealed the Bullpups’ win.
With Cartel’s heroics, the Bullpups are now one victory away from claiming their ninth UAAP boys’ basketball title since Season 82 in 2019.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Hindi ko alam paano ako nakapag-deliver sa clutch eh. Hindi rin ako makapaniwala na nangyari ‘yon,” Cartel shared, who finished with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, along with four rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
“Siguro binigay na sa amin ito ni Lord kasi Siya mismo, alam na yung hirap na pinagdaanan namin over the past years. Kaya sana talaga makuha na namin yung championship.
“Kahit nandoon yung sakit ng past seasons, meron pa rin akong positive mindset. Naniniwala naman kami sa mga coaches namin, which is ang laking fuel kasi ang laki ng tiwala nila sa amin na babawi kami at makukuha na namin yung championship this season.”
Sharing Cartel’s sentiments was Mac Alfanta, who has endured the Bullpups’ struggles for the past 728 days — starting from their painful dethroning by FEU-Diliman on March 17, 2023, in Season 85.
However, the 19-year-old point guard from Digos, Davao del Sur feels determined to move beyond personal heartbreaks, hoping to finally deliver De Castro’s first championship in the UAAP’s 19-and-under division.
While De Castro earned his first title in the inaugural 16-and-under tournament last Season 86, winning the elusive UAAP boys’ basketball crown would provide closure to two years of heartbreak.
“Sapat na yung sakit ng mga last season kasi parang hindi kasi binigay sa amin yung mga pre-season namin. Tapos lahat ng sinalihan po naming liga, hindi po kami nag-champion kaya siguro po sapat na po yung sakit na yun para sa championship,” Alfanta said.
“Malaking bagay sa amin talaga yun kasi parehas kami rookie dumating sa NU ni Coach Kevin eh. Pagpasok namin, kami nila Migs [Palanca], nila Jedric [Solomon], yun yung pagpasok niya as a head coach kaya medyo crucial ngayon ‘tong season na ‘to para makuha po namin para kila coach.”
The duo of Alfanta and Cartel now aim to complete the Bullpups’ redemption campaign when Game 2 tips off next Thursday, March 20, at the same San Juan venue.
