NATIONAL University had grand plans of shattering the narrative that the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament is just a two-team horserace.
But after a heartbreaking defeat to La Salle, a near-upset to Far Eastern University, and the loss of Malian center Mo Diassana to an ACL injury, the Bulldogs might be rethinking their position in the totem pole.
READ: NU storms back, stands strong against FEU for win No. 1
Coach Jeff Napa, however, remains optimistic and is looking forward to meeting the new challenge with strength and determination.
He has reasons to be optimistic: No. 1, it’s still early in the season. And No. 2, while the loss of Diassana, its foreign athlete-student, is a setback, it is not a game-changer.
In this regard, he is making plans for his team to adjust to the new situation. The plan is to make the team realize that the players can do it minus their foreign help. It’s just a matter of recalibrating the minds of his wards, Napa said.
“It’s all about the mindset,” he said. “We cannot start flat like we did against FEU. Di kami pwede maging tentative sa mga next games namin.”
Napa’s words must be absorbed quickly by his players especially because their next assignment will be against powerhouse University of the Philippines on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6:30 p.m. clash is an anticipated one given the history between the two sides, but it couldn’t be any more important for the Bulldogs which want to stay in the conversation in the chase for the championship.
“Ang importante is we win as many games in order na pagdating ng second round, nandoon na yung adjustments. Kaya very crucial ito lalo pa against UP which is a strong and complete team,” explained Napa.
Defense will be the name of the game for NU as UP's offense is among the best in the league, shooting 48-percent from the field through two games this season.
The Bulldogs must find a way to check JD Cagulangan, who has been averaging 19.0 points per game while efficiently executing many of his team's play. Then there's Francis Lopez, who has been a menace on the open floor collecting 10.0 points in the Fighting Maroons’ two wins.
Fortunately for NU, it is still a talented team with Jake Figueroa, Jolo Manansala, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Reinhard Jumamoy leading the fray.
“I don’t care kung anong mangyari sa offense as long as yung certain rules na ginagawa namin sa defense is nandoon pa rin,” said Napa.
Though NU is bound to go all-Filipino for the remainder of the season, the coach still trusts that his side can go places with or without a foreign student-athlete.
“Positive pa rin naman kami kahit na wala kaming FSA. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, tatlong taon akong nasanay na All-Filipino [sa Letran], so siguro I need to translate kung anuman yung mga natutunan ko, mga experiences ko para ma-emphasize sa kanila na sila-sila pa rin yun,” said Napa.
“Limahan pa rin ang naglalaro sa court.”
Winless teams Far Eastern University and University of the East, meanwhile, shoot for their first win of the season at 4:30 p.m.
The Tamaraws are motivated to bounce back after Janrey Pasaol’s missed free throws in the clutch saw them succumb to NU, 62-60, last Saturday.
On the other hand, the Red Warriors are driven to end the slump and provide much needed help to Precious Momowei after their late charge against UP fell short, 81-71.
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