BY Gwen Bergado
JUST three years into sitting on the head coaching chair - of dynastic NU-Nazareth School, no less - and Kevin de Castro has already experienced the highs and lows of calling the shots.
From embracing the golden opportunity to spearhead the Bullpups, winners of five UAAP boys' championships from 2012-19, to settling for bronze then silver medals in his first two years, the young mentor is living and learning on the job.
One thing’s for sure, however. The full faith of one Jeff Napa is a win he relishes in and cherishes.
“Yung mga pinalitan ko, talagang multi-talented coaches eh. Like sila coach Goldwin [Monteverde], coach Jeff,” he told SPIN.ph after their victory vs. University of Santo Tomas that moved them one win away from the Season 87 crown.
READ: Bullpups tame Tiger Cubs in highly-charged Game 1
Monteverde won back-to-back titles in 2018-19 for NUNS before his just-as-successful transfer to the University of the Philippines, while Napa established and reinforced the Bullpups into a perennial contender with three rings to show for it from 2012-16.
While Napa is now trying to work his magic on Jhocson's seniors squad, he knows full well that a strong juniors program is key to continued contention. That's why he appointed de Castro, who has never had head coaching experience, as Bullpups shot-caller.
“Actually sobrang laking tulong sa akin si coach Jeff. Manalo, matalo hindi niya 'ko pinababayaan,” the 31-year-old NUNS tactician shared.
Napa has known de Castro for quite some time, back to when the former was an assistant coach and the latter was a Team B player for National U in the mid 2010s.
And until know, it's crystal clear that Napa has de Castro's back, as the former has always been the first to come to the latter's defense after tough losses - including the 20-point rout they suffered at the hands of the Tiger Cubs to end eliminations.
In that light, de Castro can safely say that Napa is a second father to him, filling the void of his family based in the U.S.
NUNS' dogged pursuit
That is exactly why de Castro has no problem whatsoever that Napa remains a voice that can be heard and a presence that can be felt with the Bullpups.
In his eyes, he's not playing second fiddle - it's just his second father doing anything and everything to be of help.
"Marami akong naririnig na ganun, pero sabi nga ni coach Jeff, pasok dito, labas dito," he said, while drawing a line with his index finger from his right ear to the left.
“Gusto lang naman niya, marating ko rin ‘yung narating niya.”
One more win and de Castro will, indeed, take his place beside Napa and Monteverde as blue-and-gold champion coaches.
“Kung nakuha namin ito, masasabi kong ako na yung pinakamasayang tao sa mundo,” he hopefully stated, as NUNS guns for its ninth overall championship next Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
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