ON 2-0 START
Of course, I have to commend the players they played well but I have to give credit also to my coaching staff, the coaches, we came prepared.
STATEMENT WIN VS LAST YEAR’S RUNNERS-UP
ON WINNING WITH THEIR KIND OF BASKETBALL
Sinabihan ko yung mga bata na kung ano man ang gagawin natin dito hindi tayo mananalo dito na mano-a-mano eh. Yung third-stringer nito, starter namin eh. Literally sana kung pumunta samin eh pumunta ng UP eh. Di kami aano dito kung talagang babasehan namin sa individual capabilities. So what I told the players was nag prepare nang maayos yung mga coaches, so siguraduhin natin kung ano yung gameplan, ilabas natin sa laro, which they did. They’re not perfect. May mga mistakes, but they are trying their best really, to really execute everything we’re preparing in practice.
ON FEWER 3-POINT ATTEMPTS
Actually hindi eh. Kaya lang yun ang binibigay sa amin eh. May butas dun sa depensa nila so inexploit namin yung butas dun sa depensa. Not necessarily taking 3’s. We don’t settle for good or better, we always settle for the best shot that’s why may mga extra practices pero sometimes may mali pa rin eh. Mali yun ng mga excited. Hopefully mag mature pa tong mga to in terms of decision-making.
ON OUTRUNNING UP
They are not conscious. Ang mindset palagi ng mga to, just focus on the objective. Walang pakialam yung mga players kung ilan yung lamang, kung malapit na kung ano. They are just too focused on executing our game plan.
STAR-STRUCK VERSUS UP?
While I was talking to the kids, we have that connection na talagang may eye contact, I told them, learn from this and make sure na next time, hindi na mangyari ito.
ON PLAYING ATENEO
Well, obviously they are the best collegiate team, gusto lang namin makadikit then let’s see kung ano pwedeng mangyari sa laro. Gusto namin nandun lang, dikit. But we are going to do our best.
This is a competition. Every time you compete, every time you play, of course, you always aim to win. And you are going to do your best, you are going to squeeze everything just to win. We’re going to do our best and hopefully maganda resulta.
ON THE TEAM’S IDENTITY
In terms of running, in terms of the fast-paced game, magiging depende sa kalaban namin eh.
The Letran 2015 team has a different identity and itong UST naman to, different naman to eh. Yung Letran when I came there, buo na yun eh. Yun na yun. Buo na sila. Sila Mark, sila KRacs, Nambatac, coach Mcjour. Buo na yung mga yun eh. But itong UST na to, piece by piece we were the ones who formed this. Kung sino irecruit , kung sino player na kunin, kung sino yung pumayag, this is different. In terms of kung na-absorb yung sistema or kung susunod sa amin, of course, we were the ones who recruited them so we trust them, their families trust us. I think, mag-ccoach na lang kami.
MARK NONOY
ON TODAY’S PERFORMANCE
First, isa lang kasi yung sinasandalan namin. Every practice namin, lagi kami nireremind ni coach na di kami ganun ka talented pero isa lang yung sinasandalan namin kundi yung sistema niya, dun lang kami sumasandal para manalo yung team namin.
ON OUTRUNNING UP
Yun yung advantage namin as a team kasi maliliit kami and then yung speed namin mas lamang kami sa kanila so dun namin binuhos yung lakas namin and yung pagka rebound namin, takbuhan agad yun ang advice rin ni coach samin kasi maliliit kami.
ADJUSTMENT TO THE SYSTEM
Nung first game kasi syempre rookie. Nandun yung jitters sakin kasi umaasa sila na gagawa ako. Nung first game, di ako nakapag contribute pero panalo pa rin. Pero this game, nakapag adjust ako, sinabihan ako ni coach na bumawi, sundin yung ano gusto niya, yung sistema namin. Para sa team namin to, hindi lang para samin para magawa. Hindi namin magagawa ito kundi dahil sa kanila, sa mga teammates po namin.
ON PLAYING ATENEO
Magp-prepare lang kami. Gagawin lang namin kung ano prinactice namin, sasabihin ni coach. Lalaban lang kami.
DAVE ANDO
ON OUTRUNNING UP
Iniisip lang namin na kaya namin lahat tas maniwala kami kay coach. Sabi niya, ‘takbuhan niyo lang nang takbuhan.’ Yun yung game plan namin.