It turns out, the NU Bulldogs want some of that love, too, according to Jeff Napa
Largely overlooked by pundits in the preseason, the Bulldogs are on the doorstep of yet another Final Four appearance and, if current trends continue, even a win-once advantage. This after NU hiked its UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament record to 8-3 after outlasting defending champions La Salle Green Archers, 84-80, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The NU Bulldogs Can Compete
For Napa, this strong season so far is only proving one thing he already knew: his Bulldogs have what it takes to excel at this stage.
“I’m happy na pinu-prove ng players namin ‘yung capabilities nila to compete at the highest level,” Napa told reporters after the Bulldogs eked out a close win over La Salle. “Alam naming hindi kayo pabor sa amin. Wala nga kami sa radar niyo. Aminin niyo man o hindi, hindi niyo na-predict na ganito kami magpe-perform.”
True enough, most prognosticators counted La Salle and the UP Fighting Maroons as the barometer owing to their championship pedigree, with hosts FEU Tamaraws and the talented UST Growling Tigers hailed as potential challengers to the throne.
With the elimination round winding down, the NU Bulldogs are looking up only to Season 88’s runners-up and are well ahead of everybody else.
NU Bulldogs Want That Love, Says Napa
Surprisingly, Napa is looking to win for his Bulldogs some love—respect, perhaps—as they look increasingly like a title threat with every win.
“Hindi kami overhyped tulad ng ibang teams, pero doon ko napapatunayan kung gaano kagaling ‘yung players ko, at doon ako napapaisip kung paano ko pa sila matutulungan na mag-improve,” Napa added. “Kumbaga, nanliligaw kami sa inyo. Ayaw niyo kaming pansinin, so itong mga ‘to, magpapansin muna kami para kahit papaano, ma-in love kayo sa amin.”
Indeed, it’s getting harder not to notice these Bulldogs. And with three games remaining, they can make an even bigger statement if they clinch a second straight twice-to-beat incentive by winning at least two of their last three games against the UE Red Warriors, FEU, and UP.
Season 88’s Heartbreak
Then again, Napa and his NU Bulldogs have been in that situation before. Last season, they finished second to UP to secure the win-once edge but lost twice—87-77 in Game 1, 78-73 in the decider—to the eventual champions. Now, the Jhocson side is doing whatever it takes to avoid the same collapse.
“’Yung last year na lineup namin, masakit ‘yung nangyari sa amin sa twice-to-beat na ‘yun. Kumbaga, para kaming binasted,” Napa said. “It’s now just up to us kung anong gagawin naming preparation sa kung ano mang blessing na ibibigay sa amin ni Lord para, at least, mapaghandaan namin.”
It could be a big blessing when all is said and done. The NU Bulldogs are making sure they’re ready for it.
