NU-Nazareth's Collins Akowe during the NGBL Finals against Perpetual Help. Handout/NGBLMANILA -- National University-Nazareth School fell short in its bid to become the inaugural champions of the Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL), bowing to Perpetual Help in the finals in heartbreaking fashion.
Despite having a height advantage and building a 14-point lead in the third quarter, the Bullpups ran out of steam in the fourth quarter and absorbed a 96-93 loss against the Junior Altas.
NU-Nazareth star Collins Akowe offered no excuses for the painful defeat, instead acknowledging that the NCAA side wanted it more.
"To be honest, it's not the result that we want, but everything happens for a reason," said Akowe, who had a 21-point, 20-rebound game in the one-game finals.
"Sayang lang kasi dapat sa amin na eh," added Macmac Alftana.
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Alfanta finished with a game-high 23 points, even better than his average of 13.8 markers, but the shooting guard said his numbers meant nothing as they let the win slip from their hands.
"Nung third quarter, bumaliktad na. Parang bumitaw kami tapos, nagulat na kami sa dulo. Lesson learned ito talaga para sa akin at sa amin as a whole," he said.
The Bullpups had a massive 59-25 edge in rebounding, but they also committed a whopping 26 turnovers that became a major factor in the loss.
But Akowe, who earned Best Foreign Student-Athlete honors, his squad can only become better from here.
The NU-Nazareth Bullpups during the NGBL Finals against Perpetual Help. Handout/NGBL"Fortunately, this is not the end for us. This is just the beginning, and the UAAP is still our focus," said the 18-year-old, who put up 15.1 points and 11.5 rebounds in eight appearances for National U.
The Nigerian big man also put a premium on the lessons that they got while going up against some of the country's best high school clubs, saying that it made him understand the pointers that he still needs to work on in preparation for their UAAP campaign.
"It was still a great experience for us. This will fuel us, and it will help us for the upcoming Season 87," said Akowe. "As a team, we still need to work on our chemistry. As an individual, I think I still need to work on my leadership, and my overall game."
Alfanta also refused to dwell on their defeat, and insisted that he is now more eager to step up more for the Jhocson Street-based team.
"Mas gigil na kami," he said. "Kahit po natalo kami, sobrang laking tulong po nito pag dating ng season namin sa UAAP. Naranasan na namin yung hirap at yung mga lesson ng mabibigat na games."
"'Pag next time na andoon ulit kami, na dumating sa amin 'to, may pang baon na kami, kaya kahit natalo, oo masakit, pero makakatulong yung mga bagay na natutunan namin dito," he ended.