National University is continuing to keep its homegrown talents with the commitment of guards RJ Colonia and Pervy Timbang.
The two were teammates of Reinhard Jumamoy, the no. 3-ranked high school player according to the National Basketball Training Center, in the Bullpups’ finals run in the UAAP Season 85 Boys’ Basketball Tournament and championship in the 2023 Smart-NBTC National Finals.
“Again, nagpapasalamat kami sa families nina RJ and Pervy na patuloy ang tiwala nila sa NU,” said incoming third year Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa.
“Ganito naman yung gusto naming i-build na culture talaga, na from juniors to seniors, iisa lang ang identity ng Bulldogs.”
Colonia was also an NBTC All-Star and the 17th-rated prospect coming out of HS. The 6-foot-1 slasher averaged 13.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals in his first and only season in the boys’ division.
“Sa NU na po ako nagsimula kaya gusto ko lang pong ituloy magtrabaho para sa Bulldogs. May tiwala po ako sa sistema ni Coach Jeff at ang laki ng tiwalang binigay nila sa’kin kaya gusto ko lang suklian lahat yun,” he said.
Meanwhile, Timbang is a 6-foot-2 defensive presence who averaged 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and close to a steal while guarding the opponent’s best players such as Adamson HS’ Peter Rosillo, Ateneo High’s Lebron Nieto, and Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Janrey Pasaol.
They will bolster an already-stacked guard rotation for National U, which includes Jumamoy, Kean Baclaan, Steve Nash Enriquez, Jake Figueroa, John Galinato, and fellow newcomer Bobby Mark Parks.
Last season, the Bulldogs entered the Final Four for the first time since 2015 with a 9-5 record before falling to eventual runner-up University of the Philippines.
They hope to end their nine-year title drought in the coming UAAP Season 86.
