Altamirano says "bestfriend" defense key to Game 2 win

Coach Eric Altamirano said that NU's "bestfriend", defense, worked
for the team in Game 2. Ivan Saldajeno

By Ivan Saldajeno

NU coach Eric Altamirano addressed how his team's defense, which has been a "bestfriend" for the squad all season long, lifted the Bulldogs to a 62-47 UAAP Finals Game 2 win.

"Yun lang naman ang pwede naming gawin," Altamirano spoke after the game, affirming that their defense is their main arsenal.

But while he felt they were very good in stopping the FEU Tamaraws, Coach Eric thought the Tamaraws' offense was simply not there too.

"I felt FEU had a bad shooting day," Altamirano continued.

FEU only made 47 points, the lowest score tallied in a UAAP Finals game in recent history, on a dismal 28 percent shooting on the floor.

On the other hand, he lauded his guards, particularly Gelo Alolino for delivering in the clutch.

Altamirano said, "Our guards handled the pressure well. [The Tamaraws] were making a run, but we kept our poise. The guards stayed under control."

A late FEU rally cut the lead to six midway into the fourth quarter, but Alolino's back-to-back triples kept NU afloat for good.

Altamirano also said that they addressed their turnover woes in Game 1 and responded with better ball handling tonight.

He said, "We wanted to minimize our turnovers, kasi that caused FEU to score a lot of transition points. We were very particular with that."

Asked on what will decide the knockout match next Wednesday, Coach Eric answered, "It all boils down kung sinong team ang makaka-assert ng sarili nila--if we assert ourselves defensively or if FEU assert themselves offensively."

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