Humblebola

BY KYLE REINER PINEDA

Excuse me, haven’t you heard? The National University Bulldogs are among the top dogs now.

Hardwork and belief are two traits Coach Jeff Napa has always instilled onto his players since he took over the program in 2020. The National University basketball program has been one of the best at finding diamonds in the rough around the country and polishing local talent to be able to compete consistently in the UAAP.

The Bulldogs were one quarter away from causing a major upset to the UP Fighting Maroons in Season 85 and were top of the standings at one point last season. Many will pass off last season as a fluke but their consistent core of players and system have earned them a reputation for being one of the tougher teams to play against in the league. Breakout stars Kean Baclaan, Steve Nash Enriquez, Patrick Yu, and Jake Figueroa return to the fray in leading this long yet versatile roster.

This team plays as a unit with Jeff Napa instilling defense and tenacity at the root of his philosophy. Teams like NU do not have much leeway in recruiting the most talented players but they certainly make up for it by being one of the most cohesive units in the UAAP. Ten players scored in their opening win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles in convincing fashion.

“We did not look at the score. Ateneo ba yan or ibang school, we’ll just play our game and work hard then the results will follow.”- Coach Jeff Napa after their 77-64 win over Ateneo

The Jeff Napa system has been blossoming for a while now and the hype train will only get more crowded as the wins start to rack up. His coaching staff has a wide pool of basketball talent around the country with his roster composed of players from Muntinlupa, Pampanga, Cebu, and more. The team has also experimented with using the long-ball more often and using the drive-and-kick game depending on the opponent. These Bulldogs are not scared to press full-court if needed and pull out the zone when down to surprise opponents.

Many peg the National University Bulldogs to be a sleeper candidate for the Final Four. Give them a few more games into the UAAP Season 86 and they will surely make noise and announce their return to the postseason again.