JEFF Napa has officially been handed the reins of the National University basketball program.
School insiders confirmed that the NU lifer has been picked to put the Bulldogs' house back in order after the exodus of Bullpups stars Carl Tamayo and Gerry Abadiano to University of the Philippines and Kevin Quiambao to La Salle led to the departure of coach Goldwin Monteverde.
The appointment was a longtime coming for the former Bulldogs star, who steered the National University-Nazareth School to three UAAP juniors championships but ended up coaching Letran and Centro Escolar University.
"I am deeply honored to come home and be tasked to handle my alma mater. Hopefully, we can bring back the glory to Jhocson and make the Bulldogs competitive again," he said.
Napa, who suited up for NU from 1998 to 2002 and also worked as a courtside reporter for the school, started off as an assistant to the Bulldogs before being named as the head coach of the Bullpups in 2011 until he took the Letran job in 2016.
The 40-year-old also currently serves as an assistant coach to Pido Jarencio in NorthPort.
NU fell on hard times since winning its first UAAP championship in 60 years back in 2014, missing the Final Four the past four seasons and finishing dead last in UAAP Season 82 with a measly 2-12 record under coach Jamike Jarin.
Although ravaged by the departure of top star Dave Ildefonso to Ateneo and the top prospects from the Bullpups program, the Bulldogs still have a competitive squad bannered by Issa Gaye, John Lloyd Clemente, and Shaun Ildefonso.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
