NU coach Jeff Napa. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.web
MANILA, Philippines—It took an outburst–and a damaged tumbler–from Nationwide College coach Jeff Napa for the Bulldogs to get their bearings collectively and return to the win column of the UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball event.
Regardless of the squad’s 87-69 victory over College of Santo Tomas at Mall of Asia Area on Wednesday, Napa didn’t look too glad when he confronted the media.
They acquired the win, sure, however the veteran tactician bared that he misplaced his endurance for the Bulldogs after their loss in opposition to College of the Philippines on Saturday, 78-60, at Araneta Coliseum.
“Really, I’m not within the temper a lot to reply you guys now as a result of I’m not the one who made the sport plan for at this time. I walked out on them yesterday so this win is all on them. They’re those who performed,” stated Napa.
“Our sport in opposition to UP was very unhealthy. Solely factor lacking was me destroying the chairs in Araneta so for this one, credit to them. They executed at this time. They’ll do it, in any case… Sadly, I broke my tumbler. I’ll simply purchase one once more in Starbucks,” he added in jest.
WATCH: NU coach Jeff Napa and Jolo Manansala after win in opposition to UST. #UAAPSeason86 | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/TdGDJp7OC4
— INQUIRER Sports activities (@INQUIRERSports) October 11, 2023
NU seemingly confirmed up as a complete different squad after they confronted the Growling Tigers. After being trounced by the Season 85 finalists, the Bulldogs didn’t idiot round this time and registered an environment friendly 50.9 % taking pictures clip as a workforce.
The San Marcelino squad additionally dominated the rebounding division, beating UST by 20, 45-25.
The most important factor that caught Napa’s consideration, although, was the Bulldogs’ enchancment in sharing the ball.
After tallying simply 10 workforce assists on Saturday, NU returned to kind and handed the rock constantly, registering 23 dimes as a squad.
“Final time, everybody acquired egocentric. At the very least now, they confirmed that they’re having fun with as a gaggle. So long as we get pleasure from as a gaggle, we’ll haven’t any issues. Quite a lot of groups will probably be scared to play us if we play as a gaggle but when we play one-on-one, we’d as nicely pack up,” he defined.
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NU’s unselfishness, Napa stated, was additionally the explanation why the Bulldogs gained convincingly as they did, pummeling the still-winless UST by 18.
“They did their half and the win simply got here naturally, that blowout sport simply got here naturally. I didn’t anticipate it as a result of UST is a really robust workforce.”
