NATIONAL U has taken huge leaps in the last two years - relative to the stretch from 2016 to early 2022 when they were far and well out of the playoff picture.
In UAAP Seasons 85 and 86, the Bulldogs barged into the Final Four with eliminations records of 9-5 and 10-4, respectively.
Once there, however, head coach Jeff Napa and his boys seemingly ran out of gas; falling to the University of the Philippines, 61-69, in late 2022 and then getting humbled by eventual titlist La Salle by 24 points in 2023.
No vengeance just yet
NU's campaign in the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup didn't go as planned, as they bowed out with a standing of 3-4. In its last assignment, however, it got a measure of revenge on the Green Archers courtesy of an 81-52 decision.
Still, Napa was the first to pump the brakes that the result meant anything in the grand scheme of things - especially since the defending UAAP champions were already locked into the second seed and essentially had nothing to play for.
"Wala naman akong paki kung anong gawin ng La Salle. Obvious naman na 'di naglaro nang maayos," the former high school champion coach said, ever-fiery with his words.
"Kaya ang lagi kong pini-preach sa kanila (Bulldogs), whatever gawin ng kalaban namin, as long as yung approach namin is tama, maging pabor man sa'min o hindi yung resulta, at least, lalabas kami ng venue na proud kaming ginagawa namin nang tama."
Indeed, while a win is a win, the fact remains that National U has a record of 16-4 against the five other UAAP teams and 3-7 vs. the Green Archers and Fighting Maroons combined in the last two years.
"Kahit sabihin nating sila (La Salle) yung balakid sa'min last season… 'Di lang naman sila e, actually, lahat naman ng teams sa UAAP, balakid ngayon, so kailangang paghandaan ang lahat," said Napa.
Napa's new leader
For the Bulldogs to hurdle the La Salle and UP-sized obstacles ahead of them, Napa pinpointed one thing that must happen: his wards need to grow up.
"No. 1 is immaturity. For the past three years, tinitiis ko yung pagkabata nila e. Now, it's time na sila na yung mag-isip para, kumbaga, nakaupo na lang ako, nagko-coach na lang ako," he said.
"Kailangan pa rin nila ng guidance, siyempre, pero yung maturity, importante lalo ngayon. Sooner or later, kakailanganin din naman nila yan 'pag magpo-pro na sila."
And when that happens, NU can expect a much-needed leader to emerge, showing them the way hopefully through the Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons. This is even truer after erstwhile top gun's Kean Baclaan's move to Taft Ave.
"Yung leadership role, oo nga, ako yung head coach, pero as players, kailangang may mag-stand out talaga e. Kailangan yung sino yung ilu-look up nila day in, day out, inside, outside the court. Para whatever na maging problema, meron silang sasandalan," said the concurrent assistant over at NorthPort in the PBA.
That could be Jake Figueroa, that could be Patrick Yu, that could be Steve Nash Enriquez. That could even be a youngster like Reinhard Jumamoy, just entering his sophomore season after a standout high school career.
Whoever it is, the Bulldogs must find him quick, lest they run into the same old problems yet again when UAAP Season 87 tips off in September.
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