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NU's Khobuntin relishes UAAP title 'no one expected us to win'

Glenn Khobuntin of National University celebrates after winning Game 3 of the UAAP Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on 15 October 2014. (Czeasar Dancel/NPPA Images)

Like fellow graduating forward Troy Rosario, skipper Glenn Khobuntin gave National University something that former team stars Ray Parks and Danny Ildefonso failed to do: A UAAP men’s cage championship.

The 6-foot-4 Khobuntin made sure he would leave an indelible mark when he played an instrumental role in NU’s epic romp back to the top of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament that ended the Bulldogs’ 60-year long title drought and brought back the “surreal feeling” of being champions again.

“Sobrang special ng taong ito para sa akin,” he said during the team’s victory dinner on Wednesday at a restaurant inside the SM Megamall in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City following their 75-59 victory over Far Eastern U in  their winner-take-all match for the Season 77 crown at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Sobrang importante kasi hindi namin in-expect na mapupunta kami sa sitwasyon ito. Tapos nangyari pa sa last year ko. Nakuha namin ‘yung gusto naming ibigay sa school,” added Khobuntin, who collected six of his 10 points in the payoff period during their historic triumph witnessed by more than 25,000 fans inside the Big Dome.

“Sobrang kumpleto na talaga dahil andito rin ang pamilya ko. Nagpunta lang talaga sila dito sa Manila sa Game 3,” added the Cagayan de Oro native.

Khobuntin also could not help but relish the way they virtually started from scratch following the exodus of vital cogs, including former two-time league MVP Ray Parks, and completed one of the unlikeliest championship runs in league history when they became the first No. 4 squad to go all the way since the Final Four format was implemented in 1994.

“Malaking challenge sa team, lalong lalo na sa akin nu’ng umalis si Ray. Ang dami kong naririnig sa ibang tao na ‘Paano na ang NU? Paano na ang school namin dahil wala ng Parks?’ Kaya ginawa ko ‘yung personal motivation at challenge para magawa ko ‘yung dapat kong gawin.

“Ginawa ko ‘yung role na sinabi sa akin ni Coach (Eric Altamirano) at nagsilbi akong isa sa mga leaders ng team,” he added.

Although he admitted it’s still a big plus when you have a 6-foot-4 Parks in the fold, Khobuntin added they tried to find ways to fill that big void by playing unselfish offensively and unforgiving defensively.

“Nu’ng umalis siya (Parks), nag-usap-usap kami sa team. Wala na sa amin na star player so we need to work together. Doon nag-bloom lahat,” he stressed.

“Tsaka naging matured kami sa hirap ng dinaanan namin,” added Khobuntin, referring to their arduous climb to the finals by initially surviving University of the East for the last semis spot and overcoming a twice-to-win disadvantage against top seed Ateneo in the Final Four.

“Naging willing rin kami na ipasa ang bola kung sino ang mas open. Naging team player talaga lahat. Minsann may naghahanap ng score pero pinapaalala namin na dumepensa muna,” said the graduating Commerce student.