National University in the 18th FilOil Preseason Cup. Photo handout.MANILA — National University has defied expectations in the 18th FilOil Preseason Cup.
After all, the combination of the Bulldogs missing out the Final Four last season, the sudden departure of two of their prized rookies from the Bullpups program, and a 0-2 start in the premier preseason league already casted doubts on the capabilities of the Jhocson crew.
But through it all, coach Jeff Napa told his players to stay the course and trust the system.
“We just played our game. Kung ano yung pilosopiya namin, yun ang ginawa namin. So the direction sa players is to just concentrate on our system,” he said.
True enough, that belief kept this NU team together and made it more tightknit than ever.
And more importantly, it put it a win away from winning the crown in the premier preseason tourney.
Napa acknowledged the distractions that came the Bulldogs way rocked the team to its core, but they chose to focus more on what mattered: those who stayed, those who continued to fight, and those who continue to believe.
“Wala naman akong pakialam kahit anong mangyari. Kung ano yung nandyan sa amin, yan ang kailangan paghandaan. Hindi ko na iniintindi kung ano man yung nangyari whatsoever. Lagi lang kaming move forward,” he said.
“Thankful lang ako at mga players sa mga naniniwala, sa community, sa mga boss namin, si sir Manny Sy who is always here to support, na kahit anong mangyari, di kami pinapabayaan.”
And after a gutsy 96-84 semifinals win over University of Santo Tomas, only the University of the Philippines stands in NU’s way of regaining the trophy it last won back in 2022.
Whatever their finish is in the tournament, though, Napa said that this campaign allowed the Bulldogs to rediscover themselves as they gear up for a tougher UAAP Season 88.
“This preseason is more on us, yung preparation namin talaga,” he said. “Namo-motivate lalo yung players namin and it makes us want to play better.”
“Pero simula pa lang ito at mahaba pa ang preparation. Kailangan lang naming maging ready sa kung ano mang laban na darating.”