The NU Bulldogs aren’t about to be caught relaxing amid their stride in UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball.
The NU Bulldogs refuse to be complacent as they tighten their hold on the top spot of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball.
Finding themselves in similar situations before where they ultimately fell short of the goal of winning the championship, the Bulldogs know that no title is won for leading the pack midway through the season.
Even with their 8-2 slate, there is nothing remarkable just yet — at least as far as veteran Omar John and Steve Nash Enriquez are concerned.
Last season saw NU struggl without a foreign student-athlete due to injury. For John, there is much motivation within himself to keep things going for NU.
[RELATED: NU staves off La Salle to keep top spot in UAAP Season 88 standings]
“Based on my experience, before I sit out last year I played season 85 and 86. We were a really good team, to be honest. We had the chance to be champions but coming to the second round we relaxed. So as of now, I'm not happy at all. For me, it's just the first round,” said John, who ended up with Player of the Game honors in their win over La Salle on Sunday.
“We have to go all the way. So I have experience and I hope them also. There's no room for relaxing. We have to do the work and come back strong every game.”
John was pivotal in staving off a win-hungry La Salle, who was also gunning for the No. 1 spot in the rankings.
He finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three blocks.
Meanwhile, Enriquez mirrored the same sentiments.
Rather than counting how far they’ve gone, he’s busy focusing on how much they still have to do to hopefully get their goal and give NU their first championship in over a decade in men’s basketball.
“Siyempre, masaya kami na nananalo kami, pero 'pag labas namin ng arena, 'di pa kami kuntento sa kung ano mang nakuha namin. Kasi 'di pa naman tapos 'yung laban. So, 'yun nga, palaging sinasabi as a leader, sa team ako talaga 'yung nagsasalita na sinasabi ko sa kanila, eight games more para makuha 'yung goal namin and ngayon, pito nalang,” Enriquez said.
“So, alam mo 'yun, hindi ka dapat makuntento kung ano 'yung meron diyan kasi kumbaga… Syempre, grateful kami kung ano 'yung binigay ni Lord samin pero never kami naging contented na gusto pa namin ibigay 'yung best namin hanggang may mapiga pa kami sa sarili namin, gagawan namin ng paraan,” he added.
Enriquez had 16 points in the crucial victory for NU.
Perfect effort needed
Having been through the ups and downs before with the Bulldogs, Enriquez knows just how hard they have to work in order to get things going.
Especially going up against more loaded and talented teams, the Legarda-based squad needs to make up the difference of where they lack in pieces with their effort. So far, it’s been working, with only defending champions UP handing NU losses so far this year.
[ALSO READ: NU doubles down on effort, defense to stop La Salle and stay on top of UAAP standings]
But when the going gets though, Enriquez said they’ll need to step it up a notch.
“Palagi naming inaano na hindi na mauulit 'yan [nangyari dati] and ibibigay namin 'yung perfect effort talaga. Kasi walang malas kung ibibigay mo 'yung effort mo, 'di ba?” he said.
“Ayun lang. Kung ibigay mo 'yung effort mo, nakikita naman ng Panginoon 'yun, so kung para sayo 'yun, ibibigay talaga 'yun.”
The effort will continue for NU when they face off against another contending team in the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday, November 8, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Bulldogs (8-2) vie for even more leeway to lead the pack while Adamson (5-5) will try to keep their Final Four hopes alive.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.