Double time for NU Bulldogs to stay in final 4 contention

Beatrice Go

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Double time for NU Bulldogs to stay in final 4 contention
The Bulldogs have to put their misfortunes aside. They will be facing the defending champions next on Saturday, November 4.

MANILA, Philippines – The alarm is ringing for the National University (NU) Bulldogs. They desperately need to climb the ranks of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball standings after their second round loss to the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday, October 29. 

The Bulldogs are at the bottom 3rd spot of the table with a 4-7 record. It will require doubled effort from the team to keep their final 4 hopes alive, as the Bulldogs are also coping with unforeseen events that have disadvantaged them. 

Matt Salem diagnosed with dengue

The Bulldogs were missing the services of their team captain Matt Salem, who was confined in the hospital on Friday, October 27, due to dengue.

“We missed our captain Matt Salem because he suffered from dengue,” said head coach Jamike Jarin. “We missed him, his leadership, his rebounding, and his scoring,”

“He’s getting better, but he’ll be in the hospital for 7 to 9 days,” added Jarin. 

Salem was vital in NU’s demolition of the winless University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, as he recorded a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, while making 2 assists and 4 steals. 

Aside from topscoring for his team with rookie center Issa Gaye, the Bulldogs captain played his best game of the season and attained his season-high. But he was unable to ride on the momentum due to his illness.

Sunday’s game saw Adamson drain 11 from downtown and go up by 22 points at the end of the first half, as the Bulldogs experienced a difficult time matching up to the heat of Soaring Falcons.

“Of course we needed players to step up [for him], so we had a hard time with that, so we dunked ourselves in that hole and we need to address that,” said Jarin. 

Getting out of the hole

Despite having dug themselves into a hole in the first half of Sunday’s game, the Bulldogs rallied back in the 4th quarter with a 22-4 run and executed more defensive stops to cut the deficit, but the gap was just too big to overcome. 

Coach Jarin was proud of this effort coming from his boys that is allowing him to remain positive for the rest of the NU’s games. 

“It was just too big of a lead to surpass, but I give credit to the boys. I’m proud of the boys that they just didn’t give up,” said Jarin.

“The thing we need to focus on is how we got into that hole in the first place, so we need to address that and fix that soon.” 

As Jarin emphasizes on “soon,” the Bulldogs will be facing the defending champions De La Salle University Green Archers on Saturday, November 4. 

“We’re just going to continue pushing and hopefully we’ll get a break and barge into the whole playoff  or in the final 4,” said Jarin. – Rappler.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Beatrice Go

More commonly known as Bee, Beatrice Go is a multimedia sports reporter for Rappler, who covers Philippine sports governance, national teams, football, and the UAAP. Stay tuned for her news and features on Philippine sports and videos like the Rappler Athlete’s Corner and Rappler Sports Timeout.