NU coach Jamike Jarin still proud of team despite 4 straight losses

"I'm really proud."

This is what NU coach Jamike Jarin said on Wednesday after the Bulldogs' fourth straight loss, this time against the UP Fighting Maroons.

Jarin noted that despite another heartbreak, his players were still doing the right plays and making the right decisions. "What I told the boys right after the game, I was just proud of how Dave Ildefonso gave up the pass to an open John Lloyd Clemente. Unfortunately, he was covered pretty well on the recovery. Buo naman ang loob niya, he took the shot, it just didn't go in."

"Those are the things that you have to be proud of. Making the right decisions," Jarin added.

The NU coach also praised sophomore John Lloyd Clemente, who missed the final shot that would have brought the win to Sampaloc. "John Lloyd Clemente, buo ang loob niya, he wholeheartedly took the shot. He took the responsibility. These are the things that you've mentored these young men."

Three of NU's four games were decided by a single point, while their game against UST went into overtime. Despite a string of losses, Jarin believes they can still get that W.

"Wala ka nang mahihiling sa mga bata. You have to be proud with these young men and the people around you. Yes we're zero and four, but again, hey, it's a game of basketball. Somebody has to lose. Ang maipagmamalaki ko lang, all the teams that we fought, we played, they can't say na 'Suwerte nga kayo nakadikit kami.' I think they'll say, 'Hey, you gave us a real scare, and you guys deserve to win as much as we do," Jarin said.

It may be a disappointing series of unfortunate events, but Jarin said he'd still choose to play with his current roster.

"You have to feel good. You're disappointed, of course, but you have to feel good because, I'll go to battle anytime with these men because you know they have your back." — Justin Kenneth Carandang/BM, GMA News