Metro Manila (CNNPhilippines) — New University of the Philippines (UP) coach Rensy Bajar is trying to turn the Fighting Maroons into a solid defensive unit that won’t let up until the final buzzer.
On Saturday (September 5), his squad showed a glimpse of what it’s capable of doing, as it repulsed the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 62-55, to open its University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 78 campaign.
“[I’ve been telling the players that] they must believe that they can win,” Bajar said after the rousing win before a raucous UP crowd at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“Ganun ang nangyari down the stretch — they kept on believing that they can win.”
Gelo Vito was one of the wards who took to heart Bajar’s advice.
Vito caught fire in the fourth period and shot all his three shots from beyond the arc to give the Maroons a 56-43 advantage with 4:37 left.
The Warriors showed signs of resiliency after that. But they never recovered despite employing a full-court press in the final minutes.
“Ang gusto kong i-build sa team yung never say die attitude,” said Bajar, whose team won its opening game for the first time in four years.
UE, which lost key cogs like Roi Sumang and Dan Alberto, was led by Edson Batiller’s 17 points.
