The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
National University-Nazareth School, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, University of the East, and Mapua University will all look to get a step closer to high school basketball supremacy and the P300,000 champion’s purse as the Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) enters its much-awaited Final Four phase.
After outlasting their respective opponents in the inaugural league’s first-ever quarterfinals offering last weekend, the Junior Altas, the Bullpups, the Junior Warriors, and the Red Robins will again be seeing action in the semifinals Saturday that will feature two must-see UAAP vs. NCAA affairs, adding more fuel to the already fiery NGBL action that just keeps on getting hotter and hotter.
Opening Saturday’s bouts at the Tanduay Gym in Manila is National U going up against Mapua at 8 A.M. in the league that is by URATEX, Jollibee, Strong Group Athletics, and in partnership with JETOUR, World Balance, and Molten as official game ball, and Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro said that they will continue pounding their opponents through their height advantage all thanks to young stars Collins Akowe and JM Palanca.
“One game at a time muna kami,” said De Castro, whose team already defeated Mapua in a lopsided affair, 84-52, in the group stage of the NGBL that is also supported by Team Rebel Sports Pilipinas as official league outfitter, RICA UPVC Aluminum Glass and Trading Corp., Verleo Catering as official caterer, and Tanduay Athletics.
NU-NS’s victory in that game was wire-to-wire, with National U even leading by as huge as 34, and that is exactly what De Castro wants his boys to repeat in their knockout semis clash.
“We will just try to apply kung ano yung pina-practice namin. Ito yung preparation namin for the UAAP, pero good thing nagpapakita na talaga sila ngayon.Ime-maintain lang namin talaga kung ano yung advantage namin sa semis.”
“Challenge sa amin ito, so we will face any adversity every game,” he added of their campaign in the NGBL that is also supported by MET Food Corporation, official hydration partners Gatorade & Summit Natural Drinking Water, Converge as official internet provider, and Crocs.
They previously dominated San Beda University-Taytay in the quarterfinals, 102-83, to advance to the semis.
On the other hand, Mapua is banking on its cardiac 87-81 upset of the University of Santo Tomas last Saturday as the Intramuros-based cagers look to take down another high school powerhouse that is National U.
“Mag eensayo lang kami ng hard, ng madiin, and ipu-push lang namin yung mga sarili namin,” said Red Robins guard Dwayne Miranda, who finished with 16 points, three assists, and a steal as his father Denok witnessed how they outlasted the Tiger Cubs.
“Kailangan po namin ito, and yung panalo namin over UST is a huge morale-booster coming into the Final Four,” added the potential second-generation PBA player.
Meanwhile, Perpetual will look to add more wins to their perfect record not only to keep it unblemished, but also to be a step closer to the inaugural NGBL title.
“We need to stay grounded. We just go back to our fundamentals para hindi ma-carry away with our emotions due to the physicality,” said UPHSD head coach Joph Cleopas, whose team survived a gritty Colegio de San Juan de Letran side en route to an 88-81 quarters victory and their eighth win in as many games in the tourney. One of those eight came through a 104-72 beatdown of the Junior Warriors in the group stage.
“We also need to overcome ourselves. Yun yung pinakamahirap if you are winning. Human instinct, siyempre magre-relax ka pag nasa convenience ka. Yun naman ang challenge sa amin as coaches, and we are ready to do that for them.”
Cleopas also admitted that pressure might be creeping ahead of their 9:30 a.m. clash with UE, but the youthful mentor assured that he and his staff will do all to prepare their boys for the Recto-based squad who defeated Far Eastern University-Diliman, 77-71, to advance to the semis.
“Since nag start ako mag coach, andyan naman na yung pressure. It’s just up to us to overcome and prepare. Kailangan lang talaga naming mag focus,” Cleopas said.
What they need to overcome, however, is the balanced attack that the Karl Santos-coached team boasts led by Kristofer Lagat and Jean Bana.
“Ang weakness talaga namin every second half, nara-rattle kami, so yun yung tinake namin as a challenge, and yun rin po yung aayusin namin for the semis,” said Lagat, who torched the Baby Tamaraws with 23 points, (4/10 3pts) two rebounds, an assist, and a block to enter the semis.
“Then ang focus namin lalo is yung defense. Sabi ni Coach Karl na good defense will be the start of good offense, so pag dumepensa kami, magiging maganda yung opensa,” he continued.
The winners of this Saturday’s games will advance to the winner-take-all Finals next weekend and will be crowned the first-ever champions of the NGBL in the awarding ceremonies that quickly follow after the championship game.