BY MILES ARCENAL
IT was a tough pill to swallow for National University after letting one get away against the University of the Philippines last weekend.
After leading for most of the game, the Bulldogs saw the Fighting Maroons rally late to snatch the win -- with NU head coach Jeff Napa taking full responsibility after the loss.
But for the team's anchor in Jake Figueroa - the loss doesn't fall on Napa, it also falls on him and the rest of the team.
READ: Napa's glue guys keep NU together after sorry loss to UP
“Sa totoo lang walang may mali no’n. Lahat kami kasi last minute no’ng lumamang sila sa’min, parang nagbagsak balikat na kami kumbaga na-frustrate nalang lahat pati si coach,” Figueroa told the SPIN.ph.
“Yun pa siguro yung need naming i-improve kapag crunch time. Siyempre alam naman natin na si coach Jeff yung binigay ng kataas-taasan sa’min so siya yung kailangan naming sandalan.”
So when NU returned to the floor against Adamson University, he made sure to make amends.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa mga teammates ko especially kay coach na kapag crunch time na ganon, sa’kin na talaga,” said Figueroa after an all-around game of 17 points, three assists, three steals, two boards, and two blocks.
“Iniisip ko lang kung paano ko maco-convert nang maayos yung bola once nasa akin. Nasa isip ko lang din na nasa likod ko lang yung mga teammates ko, mga coaches, and NU community once na binitawan ko yung bola.”
After that limited performance against UP where he finished with just nine points on 3-of-8 shooting, Figueroa adjusted accordingly against the Falcons.
Struggling from the outside, the Pampanga native didn't settle in the end game -- resulting with his go-ahead basket with under a minute left to push the Bulldogs to the victory.
“Alam ko na maalat ako kanina sa labas so triny ko siya sa paint and yun nga luckily pumasok naman yun,” Figueroa said.
The Bulldogs’ composure late in the game was a clear response to their previous loss, as Figueroa and company refused to let history repeat itself.
“Kagaya ng sinabi ni Gelo [Santiago] kanina na lesson learned sa’min yun, ayaw naming maulit pa. So siyempre gusto naming bumawi nang madiin kumbaga,” he shared.
“Hindi kami bumitaw, nandoon talaga yung Bulldog na depensa and sa puso namin na gusto naming manalo."
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