HEAD COACH: Jeff Napa (5th season)
LAST SEASON: 5-9 (7th)
HOLDOVERS: Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez, Jolo Manansala, PJ Palacielo, Reinhard Jumamoy
SUBTRACTIONS: Patrick Yu, Donn Lim
ADDITIONS: Jedric Solomon, Vince Reyes, Jolo Navarro, Omar John (returning as FSA)
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THE BIG picture. That phrase was mentioned a lot by National University coach Jeff Napa in his 11-minute interview with SPIN.ph right in the Bulldogs’ kennel, as they prepare for the upcoming UAAP Season 88.
And that totally makes sense considering the position they're in right now and the things they’ve had to tackle before.
From losing their foreign student-athlete (FSA) center in Mo Diassana in the first quarter of the very first game last season, to dropping four games that came down to the last possession, it’s fairly easy to see how his boys could lose sight of the end goal.
This, especially as they come into Season 88 the same as last year and the previous years past – a promising darkhorse capable of pulling off a miracle run, only to fall short of those expectations, be it from things they can’t control like injuries or of their own shortcomings.
“Different expectations for a different season. Pero yung approach pa rin namin, ganun pa rin at yung mindset namin, ganun pa rin. Number one we need to bounce back from our previous season na medyo hindi maganda, pero yun lang muna. We’ll see what happens,” Napa said.
“Kami as coaches nag-a-adapt din kami kung anong ginagawa nila na bago. Yung approach at sa kung anong pwedeng makatulong sa team. Sa players, pinapakita rin namin sa kanila yung bigger picture.”
The Bulldogs will be coming in with basically the same core from last year, as they’ll be led by Jake Figueroa and Jolo Manansala, steered by a backcourt comprised of Steve Nash Enriquez, Reinhard Jumamoy, and Tebol Garcia, and powered by last season’s breakout player in PJ Palacielo.
The big difference, though, is that they’ll be parading a healthy Omar John to replace the aforementioned Diassana as their resident slotman.
While Napa downplayed the supposed ‘upgrade’ that John would have on the team, there’s no denying that having a 6-foot-10 big that can finish and defend will certainly raise the floor for his team which has long been anchored around defense.
“Hopefully, he’s learned a lot sa lahat ng nangyari sa'min during the training camp,” Napa said, with John having a notable temper during his time as the blue-and-gold FSA in Season 86.
“Hopefully, nakita na niya yung bigger picture na gusto naming mangyari sa kanya, at nakita niya yung effect sa team ng kung anong magiging mindset niya. Hopefully, maging maganda ang resulta.”
Big boy pants on
With their bigs now settled in John and Palacielo, it puts an extra attention on their backcourt which has had so much promise over the past few years, but has yet to truly crack its potential for an actual payoff to be felt.
Enriquez was, after all, one of the best high school guards to come out of Cebu in recent time, while both Jumamoy and Garcia were UAAP juniors MVPs and champions in their own right.
And while they’ve shown flashes of brilliance here and there, it wasn’t enough to get NU over the hump.
Armed with more experience now from past seasons, as well as from training in different countries like Korea and China, Napa is keeping the faith in his prized trio.
“Hindi naman talaga ganun kalaking problema yung backcourt na yan. It’s all a matter of decision-making talaga and at the same time, yung adjustment playing the game of basketball sa approach na gusto namin,” he said.
“Defined naman ang roles nila, pero sa ngayon, mas naiintindihan nila kung sa'n sila magiging effective tsaka yun nga, mas nakita nila yung strengths ng team at yung mga bagay na kailangan gawin nila.”
'J&J’s' might just very well be the fix
At the end of the day, things will fall on the shoulders of Figueroa and Manansala – the two 'J's' (Jake and Jolo) at the forefront of the Bulldogs’ attack last season who have seemingly taken the next step, basing on their preseason output.
READ: NU 'OGs' Figueroa, Enriquez, Manansala hope to leave behind legacy of doggedness
For the longest time, the question for National U has always been who’s going to deliver when the defense tightens up and the clock starts ticking down.
And while there weren’t definite answers for them last year, Napa can confidently say that it’s Figueroa and Manansala's team now.
“Si Jake, Jake na yan e. Given na yan e. 'Di ko na kailangan sabihin sa kanya na umiskor nang umiskor e. It’s about time na siya mismo ang magpapakita na he can take the lead,” he said.
“Not only Jake, pero even Jolo. Kita natin nung preseason nung wala si Jake, Jolo stepped up, walang nag-assume na kami yung aabot doon (Filoil Preseason finals), pero they did their part, tinrabaho nila, inayos muna namin yung sarili namin. Ngayon, at least kahit papano, maging maganda yung approach and coming into the season, mas naging consistent na,” he added.
“Pretty good yung adjustment nila, pero siyempre yung maturity pa rin ang kailangan matutunan. Especially nung nakita na nila yung bigger picture na kailangan nilang gawin, yung learning na natutunan nila the past few months na personally makakatulong sa team talaga.”
The big picture
Once again, the Bulldogs come in telling the same old story - in this Napa era they're in, at least.
A team that has the pieces to be competitive and turn heads come the season. A team with a tough frontline that can score and defend. Guards that can dictate the tempo and be disruptive. Two-way forwards who can be dependable with the game on the line.
“Yun nga, ang mga natutunan ng mga bata na ’to. When it matters most, who will take the lead? Now they understand kung sino muna ang hahawak ng bola.” Napa stated.
“Kumbaga yung ego, they put it on the side. They now understand na hindi pupwede yung pare-pareho, kailangan sa kanya yung bola,” he continued.
“So far, itong campaign namin from the offseason, coming into the training camp, coming in the season, I’m pretty sure alam nila kung kanino kami kailangan pumunta.”
That’s exactly the big picture that Napa’s always preached - though it's quite funny 'cause it's always been in front of them.
Whether NU actually keeps its eyes on it and stays on track, or strays away from it yet again, will be known this Season 88.
'Cause if they do, these Bulldogs will do a hell lot more than barking this year.
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Read up on what to expect from the other teams in UAAP Season 88 here:
ATENEO UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Welcome to the Blue Eagles as darkhorse era
FEU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Tamaraws enter comfort zone after 'Pre-xit'
UE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Red Warriors giving swag with fiery Gavina in charge
ADAMSON UAAP 88 PREVIEW: These surprising Falcons just got taller and younger
UST UAAP 88 PREVIEW: This is Tigers' best shot at first title since 2006
LA SALLE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Great expectations, meet Green Archers
UP UAAP 88 PREVIEW: It's Fighting Maroons against the world
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