Terrafirma hopes double-duty Napa can replicate first-win success
Last Oct. 12, Jeff Napa made his way from the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in España, Manila, to Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Having steered his National U squad to a victory over La Salle in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament, the Bulldogs coach snaked through the winding roads of Rizal province to get to the hilltop venue.
There, Napa helped Terrafirma log a breakthrough victory in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.
On Wednesday, Napa will make a shorter trip—from Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, to Ninoy Aquino Stadium in neighboring Manila.
Is another double in the offing for the Dyip assistant coach, who is often seen handling timeouts and disgramming plays while designated head coach Ronald Tubid looks on?
“There’s no head coach here. We’re all head coaches here,” Tubid said after the Dyip’s 97-91 upset of the NLEX Road Warriors over a week ago, the franchise’s first victory since starting last season’s Philippine Cup with a win.
The victory snapped a string of 11 consecutive defeats for the franchise which could not sell itself in the offseason. Terrafirma rode on a stirring performance of unheralded rookie JM Bravo, the sixth-round pick in last month’s Draft out of Lyceum of the Philippines.
Bravo brings with him some motivation every game. Not only is he riding a comeback since being knocked unconscious while playing for the Pirates in last season’s NCAA, eventually returning to action after weeks of recovery.
“It’s very special because of what happened last year,” Bravo said in Filipino after earning Best Player of the Game honors. “But I just put in the past and I just focus on what I have now.”
The 25-year-old forward admitted that his dad was instrumental in his comeback—his inspiration as he worked through his recovery.
Unfortunately, the elder Bravo died earlier this year.
“I told him that I won’t give up [and] that I [will] enter the professional level,” Bravo said.
Bravo and his teammates battle Converge at 5:15 p.m., the first game of a doubleheader that also features the later match between Phoenix and NLEX.
