As the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights missed another ship to the Final Four, Jeff Napa could not help but look forward to Season 94.
“Next year is a different story,” Napa said.
After all, Napa’s first two years in Letran have been very challenging, to say the least.
Seen as an outsider, the National University alumnus needed to prove himself to the community and to his players during his first year of duty. It ended up with a sixth place finish.
His second year, on the other hand, opened with unnecessary drama as two of his players — namely Bong Quinto and JP Calvo — almost transferred to the De La Salle University just days before Season 93 opened its curtains. Though able to overcome, the Knights missed the Final Four, falling to San Sebastian in a knockout contest to settle for fifth.
“Start of the season alam ko naman kung saan kami aabot this season. Madami lang nangyari talaga nung early season namin, madaming telenobelang nangyari at yun ang nagpa-suffer sa amin, nagpabigat kaya kami nalagay sa ganitong situwasyon,” admitted the youthful mentor, as Letran had opened their season with a loss to Mapua that proved to be vital in the Final Four race.
“Pero hindi ko tinitignan as an excuse yan. Iniisip ko rin na kaya yan nangyari para tumatag din kami, para umabot kami sa ganitoing situwasyon,” he asserted on Tuesday night.
“It just so happened na dito nagtatapos ang season namin.”
Having found out what he needs to turn around the proud institution, Napa will leave no stone unturned for his contract year with Letran as he was given the keys to open the walls of Letran to numerous recruits.
Next season, the Knights will have former UE Red Warriors Bonbon Batiller and Fran Yu; former DLSU Green Archer Larry Muyang; former CSB Blazer Christian Fajarito; and former NU-commit Coy Galvelo to backstop the core of Calvo, Quinto, Jerrick Balanza, and Jeo Ambohot.
On paper, this team will be as deep as arch-rivals San Beda and as hungry as neighbors Lyceum. And with this potential, Napa is setting his expectations high.
“Talagang may competition within the team. With the talent we have, magiging mabigat yung competition so there’s no assurance kung sino mali-lineup next year,” he disclosed, “One thing’s for sure, my target next year is to become a champion. Yun na yung mindset ko. Ang mindset ko this year is the Final Four.
“Next year our mindset is to become number one.”
