Arellano University's current win-loss record in the NCAA Season 99 doesn't define what kind of a team the Chiefs is.
The Chiefs have shown in their past games that they could be a thorn for the other teams, giving the likes of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde a run for their money.
However, their endgame woes proved to be costly as they fell deep in a 1-8 card.
On Friday, though, they emerged as the better team as they eked out a gritty 74-72 upset victory against San Beda University to end their four-game skid.
Powering that morale-boosting win was veteran Jade Talampas, who said it was hard work during training that made it possible for them to stun the second seed Red Lions.
"Sa akin, talagang sinunod lang namin ‘yung sistema ni coach. Although silent kami nung first half, siguro dala lang ng frustrations namin ‘yun, then lahat ng hirap namin sa training ay nagbunga lang," Talampas said.
"Thankful din ako sa tiwala ng teammates ko lalo na sa coaching staff."
(For me, we just follow coach's system. Although we were silent in the first half, perhaps because of our frustrations, our hard work in training bore fruit. I'm thankful for the trust of my teammates, especially the coaching staff.)
Talampas bucked a slow start as after going scoreless at the half, he exploded in the second half to finish with a team-high 18 points highlighted by three triples late in the fourth. He also collected six rebounds, two steals, and one assist to tow the Chiefs to their second win of the season.
"Regarding do’n sa last possession, wala akong ibang inisip kundi ‘yung sinabi lang ni coach na focus lang so ‘yun lang ginawa namin then luckily naka-survive kami sa game na ‘yon," he added.
"Nasa isip ko lang no’n ay ‘yung pagkukulang namin lagi which is ‘yung finishing touches, ‘yung pang-seal ng game."
(Regarding the last possession, I only thought of what coach told us which is to focus, so we just did that and luckily we survived. What I was thinking was our shortcomings before which is the finishing touch to seal the game.)
Arellano's rookie coach Chico Manabat echoed Talampas, saying that aside from giving it all in practices, it's also their winning mentality that spelled the difference.
"Lagi ko kasing nire-remind sa kanila na ang mission natin bago pumunta sa Filoil EcoOil Arena is to win and then sabi ko meron lang tayong two reasons: manalo at manalo," Manabat said.
"Para wala na silang takas doon sa panalo and then luckily naman, sabi nga ni Jade, ‘yung hardwork ng mga batang ‘to."
(I always tell them that our mission before heading here is to win and we have two reasons: win and win. They can't escape that and luckily, as Jade said, it's about their hard work.)
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News
