Games today:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
2 p.m. — UE vs UST
4 p.m. — NU vs La Salle
National University doesn’t concern itself with which team it faces as long as it gets its mission done.
So, when the Bulldogs march into battle against De La Salle University they will only be focused on executing their game plan in claiming a sixth straight win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“We don’t care who we take on. Our concern is ourselves. After all our rivals aren’t the ones who will deliver us to victory, it will still be us,” NU coach Jeff Napa said as his wards clash with the Green Archers in the main game of the double-header playdate.
Game time is set at 4 p.m. following the University of the East and University of Santo Tomas tussle at 2 p.m.
NU is currently enjoying the longest active winning streak in the tournament and a share of the lead alongside University of the Philippines with identical 7-1 win-loss cards.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 64-61 win over the Red Warriors last Wednesday and are looking to make a repeat of their 80-77 overtime escape of the Green Archers in the first round.
However, Napa mentioned concerns on the health of some of his players.
“It’s not that hard to plan for our next opponent. I’m pretty sure they are preparing well against us as we are preparing also for them,” Napa said.
“My concern is about keeping mga players healthy because we still have a long way to go in the second round,” the mentor added, citing injury scare on Steve Nash Enriquez (jaw), Reinhard Jumamoy and Jolo Manansala.
Napa, however, is confident the rest of his crew will be ready to step up, especially against La Salle’s top players in leading Most Valuable Player contender Kevin Quiambao, Evan Nelle, Mark Nonoy and Michael Phillips.
“I don’t care who they will put on against my players. I know that they can take on anyone. I told Kean (Baclaan) last game, that he can become a superstar in his role. We really don’t care who we will face,” Napa, who will also pin his hopes on Omar John and Jake Figueroa.
La Salle, on the other hand, is on a two-game win streak including a dominating 100-69 drubbing of UST.
Just like his good friend Napa, Green Archers coach Topex Robinson wants his players to think about how they will execute rather than worry about what NU will do.
“Obviously, we’re not gonna get back at NU. NU is not our competition. Our competition is ourselves. We’re not gonna use the word: Bawian natin yan. No it’s not. They are still gonna play their best basketball,” Robinson said.
La Salle is at solo third spot with a 5-3 card.
“I really am a fan of what coach Jeff Napa’s doing and they will always be a worthy rival, their strength shows our weakness. How we’re gonna work together to give NU a chance for a run for their money,” he added.
“They’ve been playing tremendous basketball, that’s gonna help us also going down the line. The opportunity for us to learn playing against NU is gonna be helpful for us.”
Meanwhile, UE is reeling from a five-game losing skid and is looking at replicating its 80-70 win over UST to open the season to get out of its funk.
The Red Warriors sport a 2-6 slate at the seventh spot, just slightly better than the bottom-dwelling Tigers’ 1-7 card.
