FOUR years after moving up to National U’s senior team as one of the country’s most decorated high school guards, Reinhard Jumamoy may finally be finding his way back to the version of himself many once expected to dominate the collegiate ranks.
Now carrying a bigger responsibility following the departure of Bulldogs’ veteran core, Jumamoy stepped up with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal to help the Bulldogs open their 19th Filoil Preseason Cup campaign with a 70-64 victory over defending champion La Salle on Sunday.
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For longtime followers of Philippine high school basketball, the performance felt familiar.
Back in his high school days, Jumamoy built his reputation as a do-it-all floor general, winning MVP honors and piling up multiple triple-doubles during UAAP Season 85.
But through his first three years in collegiate scene, surrounded by veteran guards and established stars, flashes of that version only came in spurts.
Now entering his fourth year, Jumamoy acknowledged that the biggest change has been his mentality.
“Siguro yung maturity ko sa paglalaro ko. And yung leadership ko, alam kong bata yung mga kasama ko,” said Jumamoy.
“Lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko at lagi kong sinasabi sa utak ko na hindi na ako bata. Ako na yung isa sa leaders dito, yung inaasahan dito.”
With the exits of veterans Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Jolo Manansala from NU’s core, the Bulldogs have entered what head coach Jeff Napa described as a “new generation,” forcing both the coaching staff and players to adapt on the fly.
That transition, according to true-blooded Bulldog mentor, also meant finding the right approach for Jumamoy.
“As a coach, kailangan ko rin mag-adjust kung ano yung nasa harapan ko, kung ano yung lineup namin,” Napa said.
“So I need to adapt kung ano yung tamang right approach for the players.”
While pleased with Jumamoy’s aggression, Napa made it clear the fourth-year guard is still a work in progress.
“Kahit sabihin natin yung 15 points, pag turnover, no-no pa rin,” he added.
“As a coach, still adjusting to our new players kung ano talaga yung right system para sa kanila.”
For the 5-foot-11 playmaker, the confidence now comes not from trying to replicate his high school success, but from embracing the role left behind by NU’s departed seniors.
“Lagi naman sinasabi yun sa’kin,” he said when asked about rediscovering his old form.
“Given naman sa’kin yun. Alam mo naman na tinatrabaho ko yung mga ginagawa ko. Nagtiwala ako sa sarili ko at tama na lang sa sistema ni coach.”
And while NU is still in the experimentation stage of its rebuild, Jumamoy’s opening-day showing offered an early glimpse of what the Bulldogs could look like with him finally taking control.
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