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National University head coach Jeff Napa. Photo from UAAP Media.

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Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1728206022752UAAP87 MBB - Coach Jeff Napa-1670.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="National University head coach Jeff Napa. Photo from UAAP Media."/><span class="fr-inner"><span contenteditable="true" id="isPasted" style="text-align:left">National University head coach Jeff Napa. <em>Photo from UAAP Media.</em></span></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — National University closed the first round of the UAAP Season 87 men&#x27;s basketball tournament in a victorious manner.</p><p>The Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing skid by thwarting Ateneo de Manila University, 68-58, on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena, with the Jeff Napa-coached team avoiding disaster by improving to 2-5 after their first seven games this year so far.</p><p>But despite this victory, Napa admitted that their previous defeats, as well as losing Mo Diassana due to the foreign student-athlete&#x27;s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in their Season 87 debut, has taken a toll on his crew both physically and mentally. </p><p>&quot;Oo naman, mabigat talaga. Ramdam naman talaga ng team yung pressure,&quot; Napa told a few reporters right before exiting the Pasay Bayside arena. &quot;Hindi ko naman para itago yan. Kaya nga I try to stay positive pa rin as a coach, as their leader. Stay positive pa rin kahit anong mangyayari.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Alam ng mga players ko how frustrated we are talaga dun sa mga talo,&quot; added Napa. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/10/5/figueroa-padrones-star-as-national-u-adds-to-ateneos-woes-2110">READ: Jake Figueroa, Ken Padrones star as National U adds to Ateneo&#x27;s woes</a></div><p>Aside from the University of the Philippines&#x27; 27-point beatdown of the Jhocson-based team, NU previously lost to De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas by only three points, two against Adamson University, and six to the University of the East.</p><p>Napa took the blame for these defeats, but he would also rather lean on the positives instead of dwelling on what could have been their record, especially with the slim losses. </p><div><strong>EMBED:  https://x.com/romwelanzures/status/1842559503583285528</strong></div><p>&quot;Ayoko nang isipin yung mga talo na yan. Kaya nga sabi ko sa kanila lagi na sa akin yan, ako yun. Ako yung may kasalanan ng mga talo na yun,&quot; he insisted. &quot;Ayan kasi yung ayaw kong makita sa mga players ko, na talagang bagsak balikat sila. Kaya kahit papano, pinu-push ko pa rin sila up to their limits.&quot;</p><p>It is not an easy task, however, especially with the number of names and personalities that he has to handle amid their struggles. </p><p>&quot;Alam ko kung ano yung attitude nila as persons. Alam ko na hindi sila sanay sa kung nasaan kami ngayon. So ako, yung approach ko medyo magiging lighter para sa mga players talaga,&quot; he explained. </p><p>&quot;16 na magkakaiba yung ugali niyan, and siguro may mali rin ako, aminado naman ako doon. Hindi naman ako perfect na kumbaga. Pero, yun nga, ginagawa ko pa rin na stay positive kahit ano mangyayari.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sinasabi ko rin na wala naman akong questions sa mga struggles nila. As long you perform your roles kumbaga, na mag concentrate lang doon sa roles talaga nila,&quot; he added.</p><p>These, Napa hopes, will eventually help them find their groove in the second round and result in NU putting up wins in the team standings. </p><p>&quot;Hindi naman porket na kulang kami ng player, katapusan namin yan,&quot; said Coach Jeff. &quot;We take away the negatives para at least positive pa rin yung approach despite na we&#x27;re struggling, At least nakikita ng mga players namin na positive pa rin despite andun kami sa baba.&quot;</p><p>As for their Final Four hopes, Napa is optimistic that entering it is not that far-fetched. </p><p>&quot;Positive pa rin ako, that&#x27;s the mindset. Ginagawa ko lahat ng paraan para hindi sila ma-down,&quot; said Napa.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-SYHEwS0zdo?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span></span><br/></div>

<p>National University closed the first round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament in a victorious manner.</p>

National University closed the first round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament in a victorious manner.

Emotional Jeff Napa still likes National U’s chances of entering Final 4

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Emotional Jeff Napa still likes National U’s chances of entering Final 4

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 06, 2024 06:08 PM PHT

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