National University was slugging it out with University of the Philippines in the fourth quarter, looking to repeat its monumental upset in the first round – the latter’s only defeat in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.
The Bulldogs regained the lead after Paul Palacielo’s and-one that put them ahead by a point, 63-62, with 4:43 to go.
Unfortunately, that would be the last time NU saw the ball enter its hoop as it found itself held scoreless the rest of the way. Eventually, the Fighting Maroons ended the match on a 13-0 barrage to take the 75-63 win.
Bulldogs coach Jeff Napa was quick to take the blame after he issued a challenge to his boys to step out of his shadow.
“Four minutes, yun yung maturity, nandoon yung desire, yung effort ng mga bata. Pero siyempre, hindi natin maano yung mga bata to making a decision. Pero still it’s my fault,” said Napa, an NU lifer.
“Kailangan ma-guide ko pa sila nang tama talaga para pagdating sa big time games na ganito, handa sila na mag-step up, umalis sa shadow ko talaga,” added the Bulldog legend, who once scored 43 points during his college days.
The fiery mentor wants his wards to act on their own inside the court, especially down the stretch where tough decisions are necessary.
And it was the talk at the NU dugout prior to the match.
Napa – who received high praise due to the Bulldogs’ 5-1 start in the tournament – would like to see his wards get the credit they deserve for the unexpected showing.
“Siguro kasi nung nasa dugout kami, sinabi ko sa kanila na I will step backward para sila mag-step forward,” he said.
“Yun yung sinabi ko sa kanila, na I will step backward. Whatever your decision, you should be accountable. Sabi ko kung gusto niyong maging big-time players talaga, kailangan wala kayo sa shadow ko eh.”
This is NU’s second straight loss after a 47-44 downer against Far Eastern University last week. Despite this, the second-year tactician had seen enough to believe that his boys did their best to answer his call.
“Give credit naman sa mga bata talagang nag-step out sa shadow ko talaga kasi ang daming nagsasabi laging team ko raw itong NU eh. Hindi ko naman talaga team ito isa lang ako sa piece nito. Ginaguide ko lang talaga sila.”
