THE clock was supposed to count down the game. Instead, it kept getting in the way.
National U and Far Eastern University dealt with repeated shot clock delays throughout their UAAP Season 89 first round clash Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym, with the equipment failing to sync correctly with the game clock as early as the first quarter.
The interruptions continued throughout the contest, disrupting the flow of the game before another stoppage came at the worst possible time.
With 56.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Bulldogs leading, 69-65, the shot clock malfunctioned yet again.
NU initially had 14 seconds to set up a play, but the clock failed to tick after the inbound, forcing another reset with just 11 seconds left on the shot clock.
For head coach Jeff Napa, the repeated delays disrupted his players’ momentum and timing.
As he put it, “Kahit papaano, yung mga players, nasisira yung momentum and yung timing kumbaga.”
“It is what it is. Hopefully, magawan ng paraan kasi ang sarap maglaro dito sa Ateneo. Kahit papaano, iba rin yung atmosphere. Parang bumabalik ako sa time na naglalaro ako rito,” the mentor added after they outlasted the Tamaraws.
READ: NU gets second wind in time to deliver KO blow in slugfest vs FEU
FEU coach Sean Chambers shared the sentiment, saying the interruptions were, of course, unwelcome.
“It was disruptive, man. Very disruptive,” he said.
Asked by SPIN.ph for comment on the shot clock issues, the league declined.
Room for improvement
The Tamaraws' coach also raised concerns about the lack of working air-conditioning inside their locker room, detailing they had to endure uncomfortable conditions in pre-game and during halftime.
“I don’t want to complain or make excuses, but I think we’re the only one in the locker room that doesn’t have an air-con in there,” he revealed.
To make it clear, however, Chambers stopped short of blaming the conditions for the outcome, stressing that it was his wards who had to adjust.
“I’m not gonna blame the facility, but things happen. But we had to find a way to dig in and adjust,” he said.
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