This is our best time to win UAAP crown – Altamirano

by **Admin 18** Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:49 am

Published: June 24, 2013
National University coach Eric Altamirano believes that the coming UAAP season is probably their best time to win the UAAP championship – not next year.
With do-it-all Bobby Parks Jr. likely to join the pro ranks this year, it is imperative for the Sampaloc-based squad to give it all and slay the giants to end 59 years of futility in the glamorous league.
“We’re competitive enough and I think this is the best time for us to win,” said Altamirano, who expects the 6-foot-4 Parks to lead and inspire his teammates as they seek their first title since 1954.
Matching their Final Four finish last year might not be enough to satisfy their chief backer Hans Sy of SM Prime Holdings who poured huge financial assistance to make them truly a title contender.
Small wonder, Altamirano has surrounded Parks with role players capable of providing the needed firepower.
Not only that. They also have rookies who are expected to make an impact considering their impressive high school resumé.
Ever since Parks and Altamirano arrived in 2011, the Bulldogs have slowly shed their ugly tag as the league’s whipping boys.
NU was impressive as usual during the preseason tournaments, winning the Father Martin Cup while falling short of winning a second straight Filoil crown with a finals defeat to University of the East.
In that game, Altamirano admitted his team were caught off guard by the resilient and more physical Red Warriors squad.
The former PBA mentor hopes that they can deal better with that kind of play come the UAAP season.
“Every game, we have to be more composed and more matured, especially in those kind of games,” said Altamirano during their no-nonsense preparation for their marquee showdown with Ateneo on June 30.
The league, now on its 76th season, opens shop on Saturday (June 29).

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