UAAP: Emotional Jeff Napa grateful for support amid NU struggles
NU Bulldogs coach Jeff Napa gets emotional during the post-game press conference after a much needed win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — National University coach Jeff Napa couldn’t help but shed tears after the Bulldogs ended a four-game skid in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday.
Napa admitted he was frustrated over the team’s struggles and turned emotional after they finally got to somehow repay the support of the 1,350 fans from the NU Mall of Asia campus with a much-needed win over Ateneo.
Article continues after this advertisement“As true-blooded Nationals, we’re proud that despite our struggles, they still believe in us,” said Jeff Napa, who led NU to back-to-back Final Four appearances in the past two seasons, including a bronze medal finish last year.
READ: UAAP: NU stops slide, adds to Ateneo’s woes
Jeff Napa was emotional for NU MOA’s support despite their recent challenges. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/OfVqezf7kH
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 5, 2024
“My players know how frustrated we are with the losses, but we still stay positive. We focus on eliminating the negatives so that our approach remains positive, even when we’re struggling. At least the players can see that we stay positive even if we’re at the bottom,” he added after the 78-68 win.
Article continues after this advertisementNU leaned on bigs Kenshin Padrones, who had a breakout game of 18 points and six rebounds, and Jake Figueroa delivering 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists to end the first round in sixth place with a 2-5 record.
“We are thankful to the NU community that even though we are struggling, they are still there for us. It’s a big boost for the team to help us play better,” said Padrones, who is stepping up to fill in the void left by foreign student-athlete Mo Diassanna, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game.
Despite the dismal first round, Napa remained proud of his wards for still leaving everything on the floor even if they couldn’t convert most of their games into wins.
READ: UAAP: Padrones repays NU faith nearly exactly a year after face fracture
“Of course, I’ll also ask myself if there’s a problem—if it’s me, the team, or something else. At least the players really stepped up,” said Napa. “We’re thankful to the community. Going into the second round, we hope for better performances.”
The Bulldogs will be walking on a tightrope to keep their Final Four hopes alive but expect them to keep fighting in the second round.
“We’ll play our best. We’ll win if we’re on the right path,” he said, acknowledging lapses from both coaches and players that they need to address daily.”
