UST's Abdul admits Tigers 'lack focus'

UST's Karim Abdul (L) goes to the basket against Adamson's Matthew Aquino (R). Photo by Mark Cristino for ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – University of Santo Tomas (UST) center Karim Abdul believes the Growling Tigers' ongoing struggles in the UAAP Season 77 men's basketball tournament are due to a lack of focus.
The Tigers have a 2-1 record in the men's tournament but both wins have come by the slimmest of margins, and last weekend, they were once again on the brink of defeat against an untested Adamson squad.
"I think it's lack of focus, I think that's all," Abdul said after the Tigers escaped with a 50-49 win over the Soaring Falcons.
"I can't really say what the problem is," he added. "I think we have the potential, we have everything to be a top team. I guess we just have to focus more."
The Tigers were the losing finalists last season, bowing to the De La Salle Green Archers in three hard-fought games.
They are expected to contend again this year despite the loss of main gunner Jeric Teng, but so far, they have not shown the firepower that made them such a dangerous team in seasons past.
Abdul, who has been the rock of the team in the paint since he came into the league, could not give an answer as to why the Tigers lack focus.
"I don't really know. It's individual for each and every one of us," he said.
The center echoed UST coach Bong dela Cruz's refrain of having to work harder in practice.
"We just have to go back to practice and correct our mistakes, and individually (we have to) see what each and every one of us has to do better next game," Abdul said.

Winless UP Maroons now 'grasping at straws

UP coach Rey Madrid. Photo by Mark Cristino for ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – University of the Philippines (UP) head coach Rey Madrid took the blame for his team's disappointing 71-85 loss to Far Eastern University (FEU) last weekend and acknowledged that the squad is "grasping at straws" so far in the UAAP men's basketball tournament.
"That was on me," Madrid said of the loss, which saw UP keep in step with the Tamaraws in the first half only to get blown out in the third quarter.
"I inserted a new set of five, hoping that they could buy time for my starters. Nag-backfire siya," Madrid said of his tactics in the third period.
"Learning sa akin ito. Short of a blunder 'yung ginawa ko sa start of the third quarter. That's just it. It was a mistake on my part," he stressed.
The Fighting Maroons, who entered the season with expectations of winning at least three games, have dropped to 0-4 and all their losses have come via large margins.
"We are just grasping at straws right now," admitted Madrid, who was appointed the UP head coach midway through Season 76. "We just try to learn as much as we can and not get down too much, not to get discourage, not to get frustrated."
"I know we're doing really bad, but I hope we can put something together before the first round ends and be more competitive in the second round," he added.
A big challenge for Madrid now is keeping his players' morale high despite their poor performances, and the coach said he "can use all the help I can get."
"I just want them to be together right now, kasi that's the biggest challenge right now for us," he said. "We're not a great team, we're not a super team, but we still try to compete at this level, so the best we can do is hold on to each other."
UP will next face last season's losing finalists, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, who are not performing up to their usual standards, and were on the brink of defeat to the Adamson Falcons last weekend before pulling out a 50-49 victory.
UST's struggles are of no consolation to Madrid, however.
"Independent ang look ng one team against another team," he pointed out. "We cannot judge, because malakas ang team na 'yun eh. We don't base it doon sa (game against Adamson)."