Jeff Napa expressed disappointment with National University’s performance after their 71-65 victory over Far Eastern University on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Coming off a win over the defending champions Ateneo de Manila University on opening day, NU was expected to perform better. However, the Bulldogs seemed to be in second gear and only did enough to scrape past the Tamaraws.
“Although we got that W, we really played bad talaga,” said the three-time UAAP boys basketball champion mentor.
“We really played bad talaga. Yun yung i-emphasize ko coming into our practice.”
The Bulldogs led by as much as 18 points but then eased up, allowing the Tamaraws to reduce the deficit to as low as five points with two minutes left in the contest. Kean Baclaan’s clutch basket and tight defense late in the game saved NU, but Napa was unhappy with the complacency displayed by his players.
Winners always maintain consistency, whether it’s in training or in actual games. They don’t let their intensity drop from the opening buzzer to the final one. The Bulldogs have high aspirations this season, and a performance like this won’t help them achieve their grandest ambitions.
“Good thing the team responded as run ng FEU na yun pero we can’t afford to do that coming in Saturday’s game against a very strong team (like) UP,” said the 42-year-old Northport Batang Pier assistant.
“Again, yun nga, kaya nga ako past two days sa kanila galit na galit talaga. That’s not the way we approach the game. Malayong malayo sa aming first game talaga so we’ll see coming tomorrow pala. Tomorrow we’ll start our game (preparations) against (University of the Philippines) on Saturday.”
NU will face another tough challenge against UP this Saturday. Last season, the Fighting Maroons eliminated the Bulldogs in the Final Four to reach the finals. It’s worth noting that many players from UP have recently come from NU, such as Janjan Felicilda and Reyland Torres.
The Bulldogs aim to take another step toward what they hope will be a championship campaign by the end of the season. Napa will ensure that his team doesn’t let up next time.
“Definitely us coaches, kaming mga coaches, ihahanda naming tong mga to,” he said. “Medyo makakarinig sila ng kung ano-ano sa akin to wake them up. We can’t afford to do this game (against UP) like this game (against FEU) like yung performance namin na to.
“Yun naman lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila, kailangan maging winners kami. That’s the way makakapag-compete kami sa mga big guns.”
