National University is considered one of the title favorites heading into the UAAP Season 85 Baseball tournament, mostly because of their main man on the mound.
As much as baseball is a game dictated by its pitcher, the Bulldogs have the best pitcher in the league in MJ Carolino, who emerged from the latest tournament of the sport.
However, despite Carolino’s best efforts on the mound, NU could not seem to break through and live up to its billing.
“Nung nakuha ko nga po yung Best Pitcher nung rookie year ko and nagka-pandemic, tapos nag-start yung season, parang wala na lang po. Hindi ko na po siya napanindigan, hindi ko na po siya tinignan na ako yung may hawak nung (award) kasi nga halos lahat naman dumaan sa pandemic. Kumbaga pare-parehas po,” said the now senior Bulldog, who hails from Anda, Pangasinan.
“Parang kumbaga, binigay ko na lang po yung best ko.”
With their season on the line, the Bulldogs pulled off an upset of Adamson University last Tuesday, keeping their Finals hopes alive.
This delighted Carolino, as the Bulldogs heeded the challenge of their seasoned mentor, Egay Delos Reyes.
“Binigay po namin yung best namin talaga para manalo, para mapanindigan yung sinasabi ng ibang teams sa ‘min na ‘Malakas yang NU.’ Ginagawa lang din naman po namin yung best namin, pero yung ibang teams gusto rin talagang manalo,” he said.
“Kaya po itong last three games namin [including that Adamson game], gusto na lang po naming galingan para po maging proud po yung coach po namin. Ipanalo po namin para regalo na lang po namin sa manager [Wopsy Zamora] namin, sa coach po namin.”
