THE moment the National University’s history makers — the Lady Bulldogs — has been waiting for is here.

Coach Aris Dimaunahan knows that extending the remarkable winning streak to triple digits won’t be that easy, even NU is heavily tipped to win in tomorrow’s match-up with University of the Philippines as action in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament shifts back to the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.

“We prepare for that game, obviously. And, again, they (Fighting Maroons) are coming off a 2-0 or two-game winning streak. So, again mag pe-prepare kami doon, we cannot overlook any teams here in the UAAP,” said Dimaunahan, who is now 3-0 since taking over as the Lady Bulldogs coach from Pat Aquino.

“It’s just a matter of us of how we prepare for that next game, and you have to respect the game; and you have to respect the opponents kung sino man yung kalaban. We’re gonna prepare for our next games, and see what happens sa Wednesday,” he added.

NU secured its 99th consecutive victory but not after surviving a late University of Santo Tomas uprising, 78-75, last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Camille “CC” Clarin, the Lady Bulldogs’ leader, wanted his young teammates to just stick to the system that has been successful since the dynasty began in 2014.

“My advice to them was just to execute and follow what the coaches are saying. Individually, there are certain things for certain people to pick them up. But, the overall message was that we still have the lead to gave us, they’re still coming for us, but as a team we all have to come together and hold that,” said Clarin.

“We have to hold the foundation down, so that we stay together, and the’re the ones who follow for us,” she added.

Enjoying its longest winning run since the Bea Daez-led crew won four in a row in 2015, UP shocked everyone by gaining a share of second place with traditional powerhouses UST and La Salle.

Coach Paul Ramos remains upbeat that the Fighting Maroons to pull off a reversal of epic proportions.

“I feel entering the momentous event for NU. For us, there’s always a fist time, so we wouldn’t be on their side celebrating. Obviously, we want to break that record, we’re not gonna enter the court celebrating for them. We would try our best, improve and get better during that game. If we have an opportunity, if we put ourselves in an opportunity to win, we’ll get it,” said Ramos.

“Walang masama kung maka-puwing kami, wala naman masama. But, we know the reality that they are a powerhouse, so we cannot just joke around na makakpuwing tayo. We have to play our A-game in order for us to be intact at least in a position to win, not win the game, but in a position to win a ball game, so it’s a big mindset. But, again every game, we’re just happy that we’re gaining a momentum,” he added.

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Theodore P. Jurado