The past few days have seen Mapua University struggling in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament.
The defending champions are currently on a three-game losing skid, having fallen to tough teams San Beda University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, and José Rizal University.
Tough luck for the Cardinals.
In their last two outings — against Letran, which went into overtime, and JRU — Mapua lost by just three points each.
“Mas mataas ‘yung energy nila eh. Mababa ‘yung percentage namin, halos zero kami sa three points, and foul trouble,” said Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara in an interview with GMA News Online after their loss to JRU.
“‘Di pumabor sa’min ngayon ang tadhana. Kailangan namin mag-practice, balikan ang mga dapat naming i-improve. ‘Yun lang ‘yun, kailangan mabuo at makabalik kami.”
Alcantara, however, is not pressing the panic button just yet.
With a 3-4 record, Mapua remains in contention for a twice-to-beat advantage, currently sitting second in Group A behind University of Perpetual Help System DALTA.
“Sabi ko nga, walang mahinang team. Talagang natapat lang kami. Natatalo kami sa mga dikit na laro,” Alcantara said.
Fully aware of the pressure that comes with being the defending champions, Alcantara believes all they need is one good push — one win — to get back to form.
“Kailangan makabuwelo ulit, makakuha ulit ng panalo,” he said.
“Huwag mong aanuhin ‘yung players na talagang [down]… ngayon super low na eh, kailangan paangat na ulit.”
With Clint Escamis struggling offensively in recent games — or taking a step back to facilitate plays — Alcantara said his teammates need to step up and support him.
“May kasama rin siya dapat na tumulong sa kaniya. Importante ang teammates na tutulong sa kanya,” he noted.
“Kaya naman din siya naging Clint Escamis, kailangan niya rin [i-lead] ‘yung teammates niya.”
Still, Alcantara remains confident that his star guard will find his rhythm soon.
“Minsan sa flow ng game, di ba? May games naman talaga na sa kanya [dadaan], kaso nag-i-struggle,” he said.
“’Yung combination ng players, ‘yun ang kailangan naming trabahuhin ng coaches. Pero si Clint, sabi ko nga, alam niya na ‘yun eh, alam niya na paano gagawin diyan. Di naman namin pinipigilan na ito lang ang ititira mo.”
“Makaka-[lampas] din kami diyan, at siya mismo makakaahon din siya sa ganon. Importante, every night, every game, every practice, walang mabigat sa dibdib niya. Laro lang.”
With EAC up next on Tuesday, Alcantara said he still trusts his players to do what it takes to end their slump.
—GMA Integrated News
