Sasandalang motibasyon ang presyur nina Patrick Henry ‘Pat’ Aquino ng National University at Alexander ‘Sandy’ Arespacochaga ng Ateneo de Manila University sa muli nilang pag-asinta sa kampeonato sa nalalapit na 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines 2018 basketball tournament finals.
“There’s a lot of pressure lalo na kapag defending champion ka. Lahat kalaban mo e, matalo ka lang lahat masaya because all of the teams want to dethrone you,” dada ni Arespacochaga, na lead deputy ni coach Thomas Anthony ‘Tab’ Baldwin ng defending men’s champion ADMU Blue Eagles. “But it’s understandable, kasi before that ganun din ang pakiramdam namin.
“But on the other hand, ang advantage that we have is ‘yung experience. We’ve been here before.
So we’re just trying to use these experiences to counter those pressure.”
“You just have to be ready,” sabat naman ni Aquino na ang NU Lady Bulldogs na minamanduhan’y nakatutok sa 5 sunod na korona ng women’s side. “We just have to practice well, talk to the kids, and sacrifice, sacrifice a lot.”
Pinahayag ng 2 coach kasama si NU Lady Bulldogs stalwart at national team player Jack Animam ang kanilang damdamin sa UAAP finals sa Sabado sa lingguhang sesyon kahapon ng Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum sa Tapa King Restaurant sa Farmers Plaza, Cubao-QC.
Haharapin ng Eagles ang mananalo sa do-or-die ngayon ng 2nd seed Adamson University at 3rd seed University of the Philippines sa Big Dome, habang abangers ang may wala pang talo sa 78 laro sapul noong 2017 na Bulldogs sa semis winner sa araw ring ito ng University of Santo Tomas at Far Eastern University.