League-leading NU wants to prove doubters wrong this time

MANILA, Philippines – NU boasts the best record again after the first round of eliminations in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament. This time, however, the Bulldogs want to finish the job.

After topping last season’s eliminations, the Bulldogs suffered a Final Four exit, losing to eventual champion La Salle.

But the Bulldogs are determined to prove doubters wrong. NU head coach Jeff Napa knows consistency will be key, as well as the mindset that securing the No. 1 seed means little without a championship. 

“We need to set standards. That’s what I told them, we needed to achieve in the first round,” Napa said in Filipino after the Bulldogs wrapped up the first round with a 69-65 win over the FEU Tamaraws for a 5-2 record. 

“Heading into the second round, we need to remain consistent,” he added. “The players are proving to the doubters that they can compete in the UAAP.”

NU’s only losses came against the Ateneo Blue Eagles and La Salle Green Archers, both teams finishing tied for sixth place at 3-4.

The UP Fighting Maroons, another perennial title contender, also wound up with a 5-2 record, but NU gained the upper hand by winning their first-round meeting, 72-64.   

Since falling to Ateneo, the Bulldogs have won three straight games, including an overtime thriller against the UST Growling Tigers and Adamson Soaring Falcons, who are both tied at 4-3.

Last season, NU ruled the elimination round with a league-best 11-3 record, but lost twice to La Salle in the semifinals. 

Napa hopes that establishing a consistent standard of play will prevent a similar late-season collapse.

“Our mindset is that winners need to live up to the standards of winners,” Napa said. “We need to be consistent in everything we do. We shouldn’t relax just because we’re number one. We still have a long season ahead of us, and we have a lot of work to do.”

Unlike last season when NU could turn to Jake Figueroa in crucial moments, the Bulldogs have spread the scoring load more evenly this year. 

MVP frontrunner Reinhard Jumamoy and PJ Palacielo have emerged as key contributors in a balanced offensive attack.

Jumamoy averaged 13.29 points per game and 5.14 assists per contest, the second-highest mark in the league during the first round. 

Palacielo, meanwhile, posted averages of 12.0 points, 6.29 rebounds, and 4.43 assists per game. 

NU also had three other double-digit scorers in Paul Francisco (10.86 points per game), Tebol Garcia (10.43), and foreign student-athlete Mo Diassana (10.29).

With the Bulldogs now carrying the league’s best record, Palacielo stressed that the team cannot afford to become complacent.

“It will be the same in the second round. We’ll stick to what our coaches, Coach Jeff (Napa) and the rest of the staff, prepare for us and focus on the roles they assign,” Palacielo said. 

“We’re happy that we managed to get the win [against FEU], but we can’t afford to relax. We have to move forward and focus on the next game. This one is already behind us.”

Palacielo also emphasized the importance of having the entire roster ready to contribute, especially as the competition intensifies.

“All 16 players need to be ready whenever their number is called. Our primary players and those in Coach Jeff’s rotation won’t always have good games,” he said. 

“We keep reminding them that if we want to reach the finals and become contenders, we need all 16 players to step up, not just the 10 players who usually see action on the court.”

UP takes lessons to Round 2

After finishing the first round strong, UP also aims to stay consistent.

The loss to NU, followed by a defeat to FEU, served as a wake-up call for the Fighting Maroons, as they bounced back with wins over La Salle and UE to close out the round. 

But their narrow escape against the winless Red Warriors showed there is still plenty of room for improvement.

UP allowed UE to dictate the pace for much of the game, with the Red Warriors building a lead of as many as 10 points before the Fighting Maroons rallied to avert a major upset.

For UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde, the comeback offered a valuable lesson ahead of the second round.

“Actually, UE got ahead of us in a way. That was a test for the team, having to come from behind and play tough defense to get back into the game,” Monteverde said. 

“Along the way, of course, we need to learn how to start strong. I guess that’s something we’ll learn as we go through the season.”

Veejay Pre led UP in scoring during the first round, averaging 12.86 points, 6.43 rebounds, and 2.57 assists per game. Rey Remogat followed with 12.0 points per contest.

With another round ahead, Monteverde expects his players to learn from both their wins and losses as they pursue a return to the UAAP Finals for the sixth consecutive year.

“Good or bad experience, it’s still a good experience that will lead us toward our same goal,” Monteverde said.

UP will open the second round against UST on Wednesday, October 21, at the Mall of Asia Arena, while NU will face Adamson on Saturday, October 24, at the Blue Eagle Gym. – Rappler.com