FOR the first time ever, National University is riding solo atop the team standings after the first round.
The Bulldogs proved to everyone that they’re indeed more bite than bark after finishing with a 6-1 win-loss record in the ongoing UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
It’s the best finish for the Jhocson dribblers through the first seven games of the season as they sent a clear message that they’re in it to win it.
READ: NU is top dog for Round 1 after OT victory vs Ateneo
But coach Jeff Napa won’t celebrate this early success knowing that there’s still a lot of basketball to be played with the second round just around the corner.
“Wala naman kaming pakialam kung nasaan kami ngayon. Ang importante kasi sa amin ay how we perform every game talaga,” he said after NU’s 71-66 overtime win over Ateneo on Saturday.
“Hindi namin iniisip kung ano man yung [ranking]. Ang importante yung growth ng players talaga. As long as we compete day in day out every game, it will favor us.”
Napa knows better not to make much of the Bulldogs’ positioning at the top of the standings.
After all, they were virtually in the same situation just two seasons ago.
NU also had a 6-1 record after the first round of the UAAP Season 86 competitions, but injuries to key players led to its second round stumble to slip to the third-seed before being booted out by eventual champion La Salle in the Final Four.
Those memories are still fresh on the mind of the Bulldogs bench tactician that all he can think of is getting his players back on the court well and healthy.
“Hindi na namin iniisip kung ano man ang posisyon namin ngayon especially yung second round nandyan lang sa tabi-tabi. We need to refuel again because start na ulit ang second round so kailangan namin ulit mag-recover na talagang fully recovered para mapaghandaan talaga namin yung second round.”
What Napa can take pride from this fast start, though, is how his players have fully understood the level of play he’s asking for in their quest for greatness.
“Ngayon, alam nila na yung standards, yung approach especially sa practice. Alam nila kung gaano kataas yung dine-demand ko talaga,” he said.
“Pero at least, happy ako sa kanila na now they understand kung ano yung value nung standards talaga para sa amin, para at least makapag-compete kami talaga.”
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