NU’s spitfirish shooting guard Jake Figueroa. (Photo from YouTube/OneSports)
“Copy that, coach Jeff” was all National University’s shooting guard Jake Figueroa could say as the Bulldogs make a comeback to barge into the championship round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball competitions.
One of NU’s recognized leaders, Figueroa heard his coach loud and clear with his team settling for a runner-up finish in the Playtime Cares Filoil Preseason Cup after falling to University of the Philippines, 79-65, last Sunday.
But the fact that the Bulldogs even got there is an achievement in itself, proving NU coach Jeff Napa was right in having high expectations for his wards.
Actually, no one had the notion that Bulldogs would be playing the Fighting Maroons in the finals, especially after finishing the elimination round with an even 3-3 record, just enough to cling onto the fourth place of the UAAP bracket.
But an awe-inspiring run for the Bulldogs in the playoffs got them there. It all began with a thrilling 79-77 victory over NCAA top-seed Letran in the quarterfinals, before turning heads in the semifinals when they blasted UAAP rival University of Santo Tomas, 96-84.
“There’s no one expecting na nandito kami sa championship (game),” Napa enthused.
“Eh, siguro, noong last crucial stretch, na medyo inayos namin, naayos namin konti,” he added.
But that doesn’t mean that they have little expectations among themselves. Quite the opposite. In fact, NU’s mentor is one of the most demanding coaches out there—particularly when it comes to his veterans.
“Lagi naman mataas iyong expectation ko, iyong demand ko sa players ko talaga. Ever since, iyon ang dini-demand ko sa kanila. So, mataas ang expectation,” Napa pointed out.
“Kasi na-expect ko may mag-step up ko talaga. So kahit papano, iyon iyong hinahanap ko . . . Maging leader para doon sa maturity ng team talaga,” the Bulldogs’ 43-year-old tactician added.
In the upcoming games, NU will be banking heavily on graduating forward Jake Figueroa, who is now in his last playing year alongside Steve Nash Enriquez and Jolo Manansala. He knows that while he’s emerged as one of the best players in the UAAP today, he has proven nothing yet for his alma mater.
So that’s the one thing that has kept him on his toes.
“Sa five years namin nila Nash (Enrique), parang wala pa kaming Napatunayan. So, doble kayod pa, doble sipag pa,” he concluded.