BY John Miles Arcenal
FOR two quarters last Wednesday, Jake Figueroa couldn’t buy a basket.
His first field goal didn’t come until the third quarter, but when it finally did, it sparked the kind of fire National U badly needed.
Despite a sluggish start that saw the top-seeded Bulldogs fall early, 22-6, Figueroa refused to fold and still finished as the top scorer with 18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and a steal in their 74-78 loss to the University of the Philippines.
It was a game that tested both their composure and conviction.
As he told SPIN.ph, “Hindi ko alam kasi kahapon sa ensayo, parang nag-translate yung low energy namin.”
“Yun nga, sabi ni coach Jeff [Napa] na huwag namin hayaang mag-translate sa game yun. Pero yun nga, parang nagkatotoo. So naka-realize na lang kami siguro noong third quarter, second half.”
Indeed, NU roared back to life, cutting what was once a double-digit deficit to a single possession late in the final frame before just falling short in the endgame.
Fight UP
The failed comeback the Bulldogs' second defeat to the Fighting Maroons this season, as the latter boasts of a 9-2 head-to-head record against the former dating back to UAAP Season 84.
READ: NU acknowledges pressing need to get over UP-sized hump
Still, the 6-foot-2 swingman chose to look at the loss as a lesson - and more importantly, a timely reminder of how far they still have to go, though they technically remain first in the standings.
“Malayo pa kami,” he reflected on going 0-2 vs. State U and 6-0 vs. everybody else, so far.
“Isa rin yung UP sa may championship experience, so kumbaga, marami pa kaming kailangan i-develop sa team, sa sarili. Sana, once na magharap ulit kami, makapag-adjust kami sa lahat. Kung papalarin, makabawi.”
With fellow playoff contenders Ateneo then La Salle coming up next, National U knows the road only gets tougher from here. But for Figueroa, that’s exactly what should motivate them even more.
“Sabi lang ni coach namin after game na, yun nga, kinatok ulit kami para magising kami,” he shared.
“Kasi sa Round 2, alam naman natin na alam na lahat ng capabilities namin. So kumbaga, no easy win. Lahat kailangan mag-adjust, lahat kailangan i-improve.”
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