Back in 2020, National University’s future looked promising as its high school program featured the likes of Steve Nash Enriquez, Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, Janjan Felicilda, Reyland Torres, and Gerry Abadiano.
All signs pointed toward the beginning of a new dynasty for the Bulldogs — especially with Goldwin Monteverde taking the helm as NU Bulldogs head coach starting from Season 83 onward.
However, Monteverde, Tamayo, Alarcon, Fortea, and Abadiano all took their talents to University of the Philippines. On the other hand, Quiambao went to La Salle.
Enriquez stood out as one of only three Bullpups from that batch who chose to stay in the program, now handled by Jeff Napa.
However, Felicilda and Torres would join Monteverde in UP during the off-season of Season 85.
With his batchmates going their separate ways, Enriquez now stands tall as the lone torchbearer of his generation.
And he carries the hopes of delivering for his father figure, Napa, that long-awaited championship in his final year with the program — a feat the seasoned mentor himself never achieved during his playing days with the Bulldogs.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Sobrang eager kasi alam ko ‘yon yung gusto niya na goal and ‘yon yung gusto ko na goal,” Enriquez told Tiebreaker Times following NU’s 75-67 win over De La Salle University in the second round of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Sunday afternoon, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“Bilang tatay ko, si Coach Jeff kasi parang tatay ko na, gusto ko ibigay sa kanya yung goal niya which is goal din namin lahat — the championship… Gusto ko lang i-enjoy na kasama sila and ibigay yung best ko na ma-lead ko sila katulong si Coach Jeff. Gusto ko lang na as a leader, gusto ko palagi sila kausapin individually para on the same page kami.”
He tallied 16 points — including 4-of-4 from deep — against La Salle.
Beyond his eagerness to redeem the Bulldogs from a woeful seventh-place finish in Season 87, Enriquez continues to draw strength from repaying Napa’s trust and ‘tough love’ — two defining traits that have molded the Cebuano floor general into the player he is today.
For Enriquez, Napa’s constant display of tough love has not only shaped him into one of NU’s leaders alongside Jake Figueroa and Jolo Manansala in their Season 88 title quest. It has also prepared the entire Bulldogs squad for the challenges that await them in the competitive world of Philippine professional basketball.
“Si Coach Jeff, five years ko na kasama. Kung alam niyo lang, nagbago na siya. Nagbago na siya. Pero yung tough love, siyempre masakit, pero kung ite-take mo as negative, siyempre ikaw yung mahihirapan. Palagi ko nga sinasabi sa teammates ko na pagtapos natin sa college ay maganda na dumaan tayo sa ganito na coach kasi hindi natin alam pagpunta nating pro,” the 22-year-old guard said.
“Hindi natin alam na baka maging sobrang easy na sayo or hinahayaan na lang na magkamali ka, so paano ka maggo-grow? Thankful ako na may ganito. Masakit ‘man, pero para sa akin ‘yon. Iniintindi ko ‘yon kaya walang samaan ng loob.”
