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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider NU Bulldogs: No room for complacency

NU Bulldogs: No room for complacency

Published Nov 16, 2025 02:37 pm

At A Glance

  • National University head coach Jeff Napa warned his players against complacency after they earned a Final Four twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament.
National University head coach Jeff Napa warned his players against complacency after they earned a Final Four twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
The Bulldogs were on the brink of collapse Saturday, Nov. 15, with the UE Red Warriors pulling off a gallant stand against the league leaders before the Sampaloc-based squad regained consciousness and scored an 83-74 come-from-behind win.
“Pagpasok namin sa dugout, simple lang sinabi ko sa kanila, ‘Yon ba ‘yong [performance] na gusto nyo i-perform? E papasok na tayo ng [semis]’,” said Napa as NU trailed by big as 18 points, 53-35. 
“If you want to succeed sa next level, kailangan ipakita nila ‘yong best nila, sabi ko sa kanila, matalo sila rito kalimutan nyo na ‘yong admiration sa pangarap nyo,” he added.
Those words surely triggered Jolo Manansala, PJ Palacielo, and Jake Figueroa who led the counterattack and saved NU from a monumental upset loss.
“First of all ‘di ako masaya sa game ngayon kasi ni-remind kami ng mga coaches na ‘di porket UE ‘yong kalaban magre-relax kami kasi may inaabot kami na game [pang]championship na dapat ilabas,” said Palacielo.
“Kailangan namin mag-focus kami do’n sa mga part namin, sa scouting… pagbubutihan pa namin ‘yong mga ganung bagay lalo na sa mga next games namin,” Manansala added.
With its win, NU stayed at No. 1 with an 11-2 card and sealed its first semis incentive since Season 76 (2013).
In that year, the Bulldogs, bannered by Bobby Ray Parks Jr., squandered the incentive after yielding to Karim Abdul-led University of Santo Tomas in the semifinals.
“Kasi ‘tong mga game na ito, hindi dapat tini-take lightly, so medyo doon kami nagkulang talaga, nagkamali. The players doon nagkulang,” Napa continued. 
“Again, we will correct ourselves. Siguro may pagkakamali rin kaming coaches na medyo pinagkatiwala naming kumbaga sa kanila na parang siguro alam na rin itong mga ito whatsoever,” he added.
NU plunges back into action against Tigers (7-5) Sunday, Nov. 23, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
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