NU mentor Jeff Napa makes it clear that Bulldogs mean business in UAAP Season 87, and it’s not just luck.
NU head coach Jeff Napa had choice words for the Bulldogs naysayers after getting back-to-back victories at the expense of Final Four contender UST Growling Tigers in their second round encounter, 67-62, on Wednesday evening, November 6.
After previously scraping the bottom of the standings, NU has risen through the ranks at 4-8 and are keeping their slim Final Four hopes alive and beating.
Though a lot may have chalked up their 20-point win over UP as a case of bad luck for the Fighting Maroons, Napa said that their convincing win over UST — which also came via comeback fashion, proves that the Bulldogs have always had what it takes.
“Number one, dun sa mga hindi naniniawala na tinalo namin 'yung UP, eto 'yung kasunod — hindi tsamba na tinalo namin 'yung UP. Okay? Hindi malas 'yung UP, naglaro kami nang tama. Ganun kasimple. Ngayon, tinalo namin ang UST, naglaro rin kami ng tama,” said Napa.
It was a more cardiac game for NU, this time around, as they needed to overturn an eight-point deficit, 47-55, heading into the final frame.
[RELATED: UAAP: Jake Figueroa-led NU completes comeback win vs UST to pad slim Final Hour hope alive]
But a 17-3 run en route to a fourth quarter where they outscored their foes, 20-7, was the driving force behind NU’s crucial victory.
Against a team with a formidable foreign-student athlete in Mo Tounkara, the all-local Bulldogs were able to fight tooth and nail. That alone, according to Napa, was enough to prove that they belong in the league.
“Kung ano 'yung gameplan namin, ganun parin 'yung mina-mindset ko sa kanila. Let’s go out, compete. Whatever the result. At least, walang pagsisisihan. Gaya ng ginawa namin sa UP na hindi namin tsinambahan 'yun talaga. Tinrabaho ng mga bata yun,” he said.
“Masyado niyong dina-down 'yung NU, 'di naman eh. Naglalaro rin kami, kasali rin kami sa UAAP. 'Di porket nandoon kami sa baba, eh puro kami talunan. May rason kung bakit kami natalo: nawalan kami ng import eh. Sino bang [hindi] mahirapan maglaro nang walang import dito sa UAAP?”
Mo Diassana was left injured for the rest of the season after only four minutes in their opening game against the DLSU Green Archers back in September. Since then, it was an uphill battle for the Bulldogs.
But after learning how to win without their big man, the Bulldogs have finally rediscovered their identity in the UAAP.
“Dito sa UAAP, iba 'yung level eh. Iba 'yung level ng competition, napakataas. So 'yung expectation talaga, syempre, 'yung expectation ko sa players ko talaga, is high standards talaga. To compete para sa mga nasa taas,” said Napa.
“Kaya for your information, hindi tsamba 'yung ginawa namin. Nakadalawang sunod kami. Nakakainis lang eh. Kasi, 'yung effort ng mga players, nababale wala eh. I-value niyo naman yung ginagawa ng mga players. Ganun lang kasimple. Kahit 'wag na ako, 'yung mga players ko [nalang]. Thank you,” he added.
Playing with renewed vigor, the NU Bulldogs will look to continue their spoiler role when they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday, November 10, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.