JEFF Napa was well aware of the difficulty to park inside University of Santo Tomas that there was a hesitance on his part to bring his car even if National U was just a stone's throw away.
But he eventually did, knowing that his 'bosses' got his back.
"May dala ako (na kotse). May mga boss ako dito eh," the Bulldogs coach quipped on Wednesday.
Of course, he was pertaining to Growling Tigers shot-caller Pido Jarencio and team manager Waiyip Chong, his longtime colleagues in the PBA.
Though foes in the collegiate league, Napa said that it's all love between them, as they know it's all competition inside the court.
"Wala namang problema pagdating sa pro," he said after NU's nail-biting 76-69 victory over UST in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
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"Alam naman ni coach Pido kung paano ako magtrabaho, even si boss Waiyip. Napunta ako sa bagong team, hindi naman yung UAAP ang pinag-uusapan, kung paano ako magtrabaho. They understand how dedicated ako talaga to put in the work."
Napa has been with this group since 2019 when he was hired as an assistant coach for NorthPort, then coached by Jarencio.
Bagong biyahe ng Dyip
As the PBA approaches its 50th season, they will continue to be together, this time for Terrafirma where Jarencio will serve as team governor and Chong retains his role as team manager.
"I'm thankful na dito sa UAAP, opponent ko sila, pero pagdating doon sa taas, sila yung masasandalan ko na alam ko na gagabayan pa rin ako kahit minsan, nagkakamali pa rin ako," said the outspoken bench tactician, who will stand as first deputy to Dyip head coach Ronald Tubid this season.
"Blessed pa rin ako na natutulungan pa rin ako kahit ganito ako. Hindi sila madamot na tulungan talaga ako."
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