Jeff Napa, a true National University lifer, has firmly established himself among the UAAP juniors greats after leading the Bullpups to three titles in 2011, 2013, and 2015.
While the current Bulldogs head coach didn’t secure a title during his playing days for NU from 1998 to 2002, his success in the boys’ division, combined with his consistent coaching at the senior level, has more than made up for those missed opportunities.
Yet, one of the things that can compensate for his past as a standout Bulldogs guard is the emergence of his son, Ivler, with the National University Nazareth School in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
For Ivler, he feels blessed to have a four-time UAAP basketball champion guiding him every step of the way in his young basketball career.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Actually, yung presence pa lang niya, malaking tulong na. Yun yung nagsasabi na kailangan mo mag go hard talaga every possession at second na nasa court ka. Isang tingin lang niya sa’yo, kailangan mo na mag go hard,” Ivler shared with Tiebreaker Times.
If there’s one lesson Ivler has learned from his accomplished father and mentor, it’s to not force anything—whether on or off the court—and to simply let the game and blessings come to him.
On Thursday morning, Ivler put this lesson into action, showing that his sharpshooting touch is truly a family trait.
He contributed 13 points (10 in the first half) on 5-of-8 shooting, along with one rebound, in the Bullpups’ dominant 91-69 victory over the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Ivler also quietly made his mark in NUNS’ 71-60 opening-day triumph over the University of Santo Tomas last Sunday, contributing eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, two rebounds, and one assist.
“Just be myself daw, let the game always come to me tapos the rest will follow,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro echoed Coach Jeff’s sentiments, advising the 19-year-old shooting guard to embrace his role fully and never settle for anything less as NUNS strives for redemption.
De Castro also hopes that Ivler takes these lessons to heart, especially with the Bullpups putting their perfect 2-0 record on the line against the title-contending Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the same San Juan venue.
“Sobrang happy ako doon sa performance niya. Huwag lang sana lalaki ulo niya,” de Castro quipped.
“Pero sabi ko nga sa kanya, mag-stick ka lang sa role mo, kung ano yung ginagawa mo. Luckily, maganda linalaro, especially with the guidance of Coach Jeff. It runs in the blood talaga siguro, yung init ng kamay. Happy naman pero syempre, dapat hindi siya mag-settle.”
