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

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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);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><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/1730901211058UAAP87 MBB - Jake Figueroa-6897.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="National University’s Jake Figueroa against the University of Santo Tomas. Photo from UAAP Images."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">National University’s Jake Figueroa against the University of Santo Tomas. <em>Photo from UAAP Images.</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – National University won two straight games in the UAAP Season 87 men&#x27;s basketball tournament for the first time.</p><p>Coming off their upset victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) last Sunday, the Bulldogs came with a stellar showing once again, this time against University of Santo Tomas as they outlasted the Tigers, 67-62, through a solid showing in the end game.</p><p>Aside from erasing a 13-point deficit, they also managed to take the victory all thanks to their 17-to-3 surge midway through the fourth while also limiting UST to only seven markers in the same frame.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/11/3/patrick-yu-jake-figueroa-power-national-u-s-huge-upset-of-up-1741">READ: Patrick Yu, Jake Figueroa power National U’s huge upset of UP</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/11/6/uaap-national-u-avoids-elimination-after-strong-4th-quarter-against-ust-2026">READ: National U avoids elimination after strong 4th quarter against UST</a></div><p>That is why for NU head coach Jeff Napa, there are no reasons to view their upset win against UP as a fluke by any means. </p><p>&quot;Doon sa mga hindi naniniwala na tinalo namin yung UP, ito yung kasunod. Hindi tsamba yung tinalo namin UP. Okay? Hindi malas yung UP. Naglaro kami nang tama. Ganun ka-simple. Ngayon, tinalo namin UST, naglaro uli kami nang tama. Ganun lang ka-simple,&quot; he said.</p><p>The stakes were actually higher this time around for the Bulldogs from Jhocson Street. </p><p>Aside from keeping their slim Final Four bid alive, National U also avoided being the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention.</p><p>For Napa, their back-to-back wins are a reward for his players, who have weathered through several challenges since the start of the year.</p><p>&quot;Ganoon pa rin yung game plan namin: Just go out and compete,&quot; he said. &quot;Whatever the result, at least, walang pagsisisihan. Gaya nung ginawa namin sa UP na hindi namin tsinambahan talaga. Trinabaho ng mga bata yun.&quot; </p><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/1730901351296UAAP S87 MBB - Coach Jeff Napa-03157.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="National University head coach Jeff Napa. Photo from UAAP Images."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">National University head coach Jeff Napa. <em id="isPasted">Photo from UAAP Images</em></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;Kaya dun sa mga nagke-credit na malas lang yung UP, ito yung kapalit sa inyo. W diba? Panalo. Mamatay na kayo sa inggit. Ganun lang ka-simple,&quot; he added, as he doubled down against those who doubted his squad.</p><p>&quot;Kasi masyado nyong dina-down &#x27;yung NU. Naglalaro rin kami. Kasali rin kami sa UAAP, hindi porket nandoon kami sa baba eh puro kami talunan. May rason kung bakit kami natatalo. Nawalan kami ng import,&quot; pointed out Napa, whose team has been competing sans Mo Diassana after the Foreign Student-Athlete (FSA) suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. </p><p>&quot;Sino bang hindi mahihirapan nang walang import dito sa UAAP? Okay lang kung andon kami sa NCAA, baka kami pa yung nandun sa taas eh. Ganun lang ka-simple yun. Pero dito sa UAAP, iba yung level competition dito eh. Napakataas. So yung expectation ko sa mga players ko, high standard talaga, and that is to compete against doon sa mga nasa taas.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Kaya for your information, hindi tsamba yung ginawa namin. Naka-dalawang sunod kami. Nakakainis lang eh. Kasi yung effort ng mga players, nababale-wala eh. Nakikita nyo naman yung mga ginagawa ng players. Ganun lang ka-simple. Kahit wag na ako.&quot;</p><p>Moving forward, with NU only having two games left on their list, what Napa wants is for his team to end the eliminations on a high note regardless of where that performance will take them after Round 2. </p><p>&quot;Wala na kaming pakielam kung anong mangyari sa last two games namin eh,&quot; said Napa.  </p><p>&quot;Kumbaga, binibigay na namin sa Taas kung ano yung magiging fate talaga namin this season. We’re here just to complete talaga for the community — para sa mga naniniwala. Thankful pa rin kami at nai-inspire kami.&quot;</p><p>Ask if there is pressure from him and the Bulldogs to sweep their last games, here is what the former Colegio de San Juan de Letran mentor said: &quot;Pressure? Tinutulog na nga lang namin yung pressure eh. Ang pressured, yung mga kalaban namin. We will come out to compete lang para sa community talaga.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sa kahit saang may SM, magtatayo ang NU eh, so para doon kami mananalo, para makilala lalo kami. Kaya ito kami ngayon, nagpapakilala ulit,&quot; he quipped.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABP4tQKIbejm7DoQ&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script>

<p>National University won two straight games in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament for the first time.</p>

National University won two straight games in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament for the first time.

'Hindi tsamba': NU's Napa fires back at naysayers after nabbing back-to-back wins

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'Hindi tsamba': NU's Napa fires back at naysayers after nabbing back-to-back wins

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 06, 2024 11:24 PM PHT

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Basketball

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UAAP Season 87

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Jeff Napa

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