Jeff Napa swears to remove NU ‘loser’ tag as Bulldogs end 7-year playoff drought

MANILA, Philippines – For the first time in seven years, the NU Bulldogs are back in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament Final Four after ending the playoff hopes of the UST Growling Tigers with a 67-57 win on Sunday, November 20.

It was a hard-fought win for the Bulldogs, who rallied from 11 points down in the second quarter to avert a massive upset loss and possibly lose precious momentum heading to the Final Four.

Although pleased that his team was able to officially end their playoff drought, head coach Jeff Napa is not in a celebratory mood as he keeps his focus on the bigger picture ahead for the NU program.

“We’re not thinking of [clinching the] Final Four. We’re looking forward to what more we can achieve. This is only the start of the story we want to finish,” said the former Bulldogs star in Filipino.

“Every program is important. That’s why programs are being built to be winners. From the time they asked me to coach, I told myself I will not be a loser in my approach. After facing abrupt ends in Letran and CEU, I’m happy that I’m able to do what I want here at home.”

Joining Napa in his journey back to title contention is a solid and deep rotation of star rookie Kean Baclaan, foreign student-athlete Omar John, scrappy forward Michael Malonzo, and veteran gunner John Lloyd Clemente – who is ecstatic that he is finally heading to the playoffs after four years of trying.

“It really feels great, since back in high school, I was playing in the finals with coach Jeff,” Clemente, a one-time UAAP high school champion, said in Filipino. “That feeling of playing in the Final Four is finally coming back.”

With two more big games against La Salle and Adamson left in the Bulldogs’ elimination round schedule, Napa is staying locked in to hopefully clinch a twice-to-beat berth and enter the playoffs with a considerable advantage over the eventual third and fourth seeds.

“Our journey doesn’t end here, so we have to not be contented with it and we need to have a more solid approach to achieve the level we want,” he continued. “As a player, I only reached the Final Four, and although as a coach I already won championships, it’s still different if you reach the top as a player.”

“That’s what I want for this group. I’m happy to prove to the people that they deserve to be called one of the big boys who didn’t just get lucky in the preseason. We really worked hard for this after coming up short last season.” – Rappler.com