NU coach Jeff Napa within the UAAP males’s basketball match. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Nationwide College has two duties left within the UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball elimination spherical earlier than the Ultimate 4 and if coach Jeff Napa has something to say about it, nothing must be modified.
After the Bulldogs’ assertion 76-65 win over College of Santo Tomas on Saturday, Napa was requested about what he wants to vary in his squad because the playoff looms.
His reply, in pure Napa style, began comical.
“Secret,” mentioned Napa in jest.
“However after all, proper from the beginning of the season, what we’ve been doing, we’ll proceed that. Each time, I simply inform them to lift the bar. If folks aren’t happy, we don’t care. All folks gained’t be happy that we’re right here in order that’ll be our motivating issue.”
NU Bulldogs’ Kean Baclaan within the UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball match. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
It looks like sticking to the system and making an attempt to show the doubters flawed continues to be a working surprise for the Bulldogs.
For starters, NU shot a blistering 47.1 % taking pictures clip to down the Growling Tigers and enhance to a 10-2 card.
The Bulldogs’ model of protection additionally restricted UST to simply 10 factors within the third body which began their runaway blitz to the end line.
Kean Baclaan, who led the workforce in scoring with 13 factors, 5 assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block, is aware of what they should don’t solely to hold the momentum into the playoffs, but additionally get the coveted twice-to-beat benefit.
“For me, we simply should play with pleasure. That’s what we have to do as a result of individuals are not content material with what we’ve reached now so we’ll simply present them who actually are the NU Bulldogs,” mentioned the spitfire guard.
Up subsequent for NU are the Adamson Hovering Falcons on Wednesday, a workforce that’s nonetheless looking for a Ultimate 4 spot of their very own.
Napa is aware of all too nicely to not undermine the coach Nash Racela-led squad.
“We’ll shift our concentrate on Wednesday in opposition to Adamson as a result of someway, Adamson can be a really sturdy workforce so we shall be prepared and ready in opposition to them for us to get our goal aim.”