When the underdog National University Bulldogs stunned title favorite University of the Philippines with a 20-point blowout last Sunday, many dismissed it as a fluke.
Some suggested the Bulldogs got lucky, or that UP was simply off their game.
As a protective head coach, Jeff Napa took offense to these comments, insisting that NU won because UP struggled to make shots at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
After the Bulldogs notched their second straight victory—a hard-fought 67-62 comeback against the Growling Tigers on Wednesday night—the passionate Napa expressed his dismay over the dismissive remarks.
“Kung ano yung game plan namin ganon pa rin yung minamindset ko sa kanila. Let’s go out and compete, whatever the result, at least walang pagsisisihan. Gaya ng ginawa namin sa UP, hindi namin tsinambahan yun, tinrabaho ng mga bata yun,” Napa said.
“Kaya doon sa mga nagkicredit na malas ang UP, ito ang kapalit sa inyo W diba, panalo. Mamatay na kayo sa inggit, ganon lang kasimple kasi masyado niyo dinadown yung NU. Naglalaro rin kami, kasali rin kami sa UAAP,” he continued.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
This season, NU’s journey has been a story of resilience. Initially predicted as one of the Final Four contenders alongside La Salle and UP, the Bulldogs faced an unexpected challenge when their Malian center, Mo Diassana, tore his ACL just four minutes into their opening game.
Before facing UP in the second round, NU sat alone at the bottom of the standings with a 2-8 record but has since rallied for consecutive wins.
“Hindi porket nandoon kami sa baba—na puro kami talo—may rason kung bakit kami puro talo,” Napa remarked on his team’s struggles this season.
“Nawalan kami ng import eh. [Mahirap] maglaro ng walang import dito sa UAAP. Okay lang kung nandoon kami sa NCAA, baka kami pa ‘yung nandoon sa taas eh,” added Napa, who coached Letran from NCAA Seasons 92 to 94.
“Ganon lang kasimple yun eh pero dito sa UAAP iba yung level, iba yung level ng competition dito. Napakataas, so yung expectation ko sa mga players talaga is high standards para makipagsabayan doon sa mga nasa taas.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The NCAA has barred foreign student-athletes from its league since Season 96, a rule Napa is all too familiar with.
But what truly hurt Napa was seeing the dedication of his players go unrecognized. As a loyal Nationalian, he was pained by the disregard shown to their efforts.
“Kaya for your information, hindi tsamba yung ginawa namin. Nakadalawang sunod kami,” said Napa.
“Nakakainis lang eh kasi ‘yung effort ng mga players nababalewala eh. I-value niyo naman yung mga ginagawa ng players, ganon lang kasimple. Kahit huwag na ako, yung mga players ko. Thank you.”
