Destiny beckons for Bulldogs

For NU athletic director and former PBA coach Junel Baculi, it’s destiny calling for NU to win the UAAP senior men’s basketball title over FEU in Game 3 of the Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tomorrow.

NU hasn’t won a UAAP crown since the Bulldogs’ first and only championship in 1954 or exactly 60 years ago! And NU hadn’t advanced to the Finals since 1970 when the Bulldogs were trounced by coach Baby Dalupan’s UE Warriors featuring stars like Rudy Kutch, Johnny Revilla, Rudy Soriano and Rey Franco. That was 44 years ago when NU was coached by the late Skip Guinto and one of its players was a certain Rafael Altamirano.

Curiously, NU is now coached by Eric Altamirano who on his fourth year on the job, is on the verge of making history with the Bulldogs if they get the job done in Game 3. Rafael is Eric’s uncle, the brother of the coach’s father Ninoy. “It’s an amazing coincidence that Eric is now coaching NU and his uncle played on the last NU team that was in the Finals,” said Altamirano’s wife Marissa. “This must be destiny.”

 Baculi said three factors will decide the outcome in tomorrow’s winner-take-all showdown which is expected to set a new all-time record for attendance in a basketball game in the country. “First, it’s NU’s defense against FEU’s offense,” he said. “Second, coaching. The coach who is able to adjust quickly has the edge. And third, destiny – it’s ours. As for the most critical matchup, it’s not just Mac Belo against Troy Rosario. I think it’s also Glenn Khobuntin against R. R. Pogoy.”

In Game 2 last Wednesday, a new attendance record of 24,896 was registered at the Big Dome. That’s exactly 13 more heads over the previous mark of 24,883 posted in Game 7 of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel-San Mig Coffee semifinal series of the PBA Philippine Cup last season. The difference is hardly significant and if it were an election, a recount would’ve been in order. How many more bodies can the Cubao hoophouse accommodate? For sure, standing-room-only tickets will be sold to pack in as many spectators as possible. Breaching the 25,000 mark is likely because it’s a do-or-die match. It won’t just be followers of NU and FEU queuing for tickets. Basketball fans of whatever color and loyalty will want to witness the action, too, for the sheer excitement of it. Besides, who wouldn’t want to be where history is made?

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Whether NU or FEU wins, history will be made. The Tamaraws haven’t won a title since 2005 so they’re also out to end a streak of a nine-year drought. And of course, the team that winds up on top of this year’s playoffs will be forever remembered for winning the first Finals without Ateneo or La Salle since 1994.

Altamirano, chasing his first major collegiate diadem, said he’s aware that FEU will come back strong after losing Game 2 in a rout, 62-47. “We reminded the boys that FEU will come back strong in Game 3,” said Altamirano. “But we’ll be ready. We’ll do what we do and do it better. FEU has many weapons so we have to continue to take away the things they do offensively.”

Altamirano, an inspirational motivator and a strong Christian, said he views the chance to win the title for NU “as an opportunity to honor God, the school and the community that supports the team.”  Breaking down what has to be done for NU to win in Game 3, Altamirano said he has three priorities. “First, don’t let them score in the 70s,” he said. “Second, control the rebounds. And third, don’t give them easy baskets.”

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 In the double-round eliminations, NU averaged 76.1 points in 10 wins and 70 in four losses. The Tamaraws won seven in a row before losing their last two outings before the playoffs. FEU was at its fiercest when the Tams demolished Adamson, 90-73. Overall, FEU averaged 74.4 points, tied with UE in offense behind No. 1 Ateneo’s 75.9.

On the other hand, NU is No. 1 in defense, allowing only 52.2 points in nine wins and 66.8 in five losses in the eliminations. In 14 elimination contests, NU gave up 57.4 points where the league average was 67.9. FEU, in contrast, surrendered 70.3 points and only UP, Ateneo and Adamson yielded more. The Bulldogs’ best defensive effort came in their 62-25 romp over the Falcons. The most they gave up was 74 points in bowing to FEU in overtime. NU’s five losses were two to La Salle, 57-55 and 68-56, two to FEU, 71-62 and 74-70 in overtime and one to UE, 64-55.

Although FEU is a more potent offensive team than NU, only two Tams are averaging in double figures compared to three with the Bulldogs. Belo is averaging 16.8 points with eight starts in 18 games, hitting 40.5 percent from three-point range and 70.6 percent from the line. He’s also averaging 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Mike Tolomia is hitting at a 14.9 clip and averaging 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 dimes. Pogoy is averaging 8.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

For NU, Gelo Alolino is showing the way with 12.3 points a game followed by Alfred Aroga’s 10.8 points and Rosario’s 10.8. Khobuntin is averaging 8.9 points. Together, Aroga and Rosario are grabbing a combined 18.1 rebounds an outing.