Maybe it's just superstition or maybe it's science, but sporting matching buzz cuts seemed like the mojo the Mapua Cardinals needed in their redemption tour in NCAA Season 100.
After being on the wrong end of a comeback act against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde during their tournament opener clash, Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara deemed it right to have his boys go for similar buzz cuts to preach unity and teamwork.
And it may not be a sports-related move, but so far, it has been effective for the Cardinals.
"Actually nakaapekto ‘yun kasi una, tinake away namin ‘yung mga looks namin sa loob ng court so number one, wala na kaming aalalahanin," team captain Clint Escamis shared.
"And sacrifice namin ‘yun para sa team and nakita naman natin talaga ‘yung chemistry."
[It really has an effect because first, we took away our looks inside the court so number one, we don't have anything to fuss about. And that's our sacrifice for our team and you can really see it in our chemistry.]
Since then, Mapua has won a pair of gutsy escape victories against Emilio Aguinaldo College and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA to recover from that loss to the Blazers. They're now at 2-1.
Escamis shared it's not a fashion statement as it also showed the willingness from each player to sacrifice and trim their hair.
"Si Coach Randy [ang nag-initiate], especially nu’ng first game na natalo kami. Nagaayos daw kami masyado ng buhok," the reigning Rookie MVP said in jest.
"Tapos ‘yun, at the same time, ‘yung unity and ‘yung willingness namin like si (John) Jabonete and si (JC) Recto, silang dalawang kulot at ginive up nila ‘yun para sa team. Lumalabas nga [‘yung chemistry] kahit off the court ‘yun."
[Coach Randy initiated it, especially after our first game where we lost. We're spending too much time fixing our hair. And then at the same time, our unity and our willingness like Jabonete and Recto, the two guys with curly hair gave that up for the team. The chemistry even off the court shows.]
Incidentally, Escamis and the Cardinals will put their streak at stake when they go up against the Letran Knights, who also went for a bald look to start the season.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
