UAAP: NU coach Altamirano raves about Ateneo star Ravena: 'You can't stop Kiefer'

 

National University booked a season sweep against Ateneo on Sunday, but Bulldogs coach Eric Altamirano still paid tribute to Ateneo top gun Kiefer Ravena after the game.

 

"You cannot stop Kiefer," said Altamirano, who coached Ravena in the national youth team several years ago. "So our job is just to make it hard for him to score, make him work for each shot, and hope and pray that he'll miss his shots."

 

Ravena came into the game averaging better than 22 points, and finished with 18 against the Bulldogs. But he shot just 7-of-21 (33 percent) from the field and missed all four of his three-pointers as NU prevailed, 76-66.

 

Altamirano downplayed his team's apparent dominance of the Blue Eagles, after his team also beat Ateneo, 64-60, in their first meeting last July 26.

 

"Sa amin hindi importante 'yun, ang importante is we need all the wins that we can get this second round," Altamirano said.

 

"Every game is important. We cannot take a day off in our games. Kailangan talaga we have to be sharp, we have to be prepared mentally and physically," Altamirano said on the tight race in the standings.

 

"I think for us to really beat the tough teams kailangan everybody [has to step up], hindi puwedeng may absent. We cannot afford that, hindi kami ganun kalakas katulad nang ibang team." — JST, GMA News