UP Fighting Maroons rebuilding continues despite elimination

MANILA, Philippines – The UP Fighting Maroons saw their chances at making the UAAP Season 78 Final Four round come to an end following a 75-69 loss to the NU Bulldogs on Sunday, November 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The loss dropped UP to 3-9 on the season, with games against La Salle and UE – two teams they’ve already defeated – remaining on their schedule.

Those 3 wins are already two better than UP had combined in last past two years before the 2015 season. Even in the team’s losses, the Maroons have mostly been competitive and look like a far cry from the team that would allow easy wins to opponents in past years.

UP also had a good shot at upsetting the Bulldogs on Sunday, as they took a 3-point lead to the halftime break and cut NU’s double-digit lead late in the fourth period to 3 before Gelo Alolino took over and sealed the win for his club.

“Subok sila (NU) in terms of ganon klaseng game. Saamin is we’re just starting to learn pag dating sa ganon,” the team’s head coach, Rensy Bajar, said post-game.

(They’re already tested in terms of those kind of games. We’re just starting to learn when it comes to those situations.)

The 39-year-old also says that his boys will continue using the same mental approach they’ve had so far this season in their final two contests.

“Same thing. Same approach. Same intensity. Yung dinedevelop namin dito (what we’re developing here) is keep on fighting,” Bajar told the media after the loss to NU.

The former PBA player and rookie head coach says he’s unsure if UP brass is happy overall with how the team has performed this season, but is sure they’ve noticed the obvious improvement.

“Napapansin nila yung improvement nung team, but I don’t know kung naging happy rin sila ngayon at this point,” Bajar said. “Yun nga, medyo hindi kami umabot duon sa Final Four. Pero siguro it’s a process talaga na it’s not, isang ganon mo, champion or final four.

(They’ve noticed the improvement of the team, but I don’t know if they’re pleased at this point. We weren’t able to make the Final Four. But I guess it’s really a process. It’s not like, you can become a champion or make the Final Four in one go.)

“But we’re getting there,” said the head coach. “Number one na kailangan namin ayusin is yung mental attitude nung team. So yun lang talaga. Duon sa improvement, nanduon na.”

(The first thing we need to fix is the mental attitude of the team. That’s it. With the improvement, it’s already there.)

(READ: New UP coach Bajar sets sights on Final Four)

Bajar says he’s currently under contract for this UAAP season, but hopes to remain with the Maroons, who are losing just 3 players after this year in JR Gallarza, Mark Juruena, and Agu Amar.

“Right now wala pag kami napapagusapan, but yun parin namin ang plano,” he said when asked if he will get a new deal to remain the head coach moving forward.

(We haven’t discussed yet, but that’s the plan.) – Rappler.com