Jeff Napa

Jeff Napa (born September 19, 1981)[2] is a Filipino basketball coach currently serving as an assistant for the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA. He previously coached in the collegiate ranks in the NCAA with the Letran Knights.

Jeff Napa

NorthPort Batang Pier
Position	Assistant coach
League	PBA
Personal information
Born	September 19, 1981
Nationality	Filipino
Career information
College	National University
Playing career	1997/1998–2005
Coaching career	2005–present
Career history
As player:
1997/1998–2002	NU Bulldogs (UAAP)
2002–2003	John-O (PBL)
2003–2004	Viva Mineral Water (PBL)
2004–2005	Fash Liquid Laundry Detergent (PBL)[1]
As coach:
2005–present	NU Bulldogs (as assistant)
2011–2016	NSNU Bullpups (UAAP)
2016–2018	Letran Knights (NCAA)
2019–present	NorthPort Batang Pier (as assistant)
2020	CEU Scorpions
2020–present	NU Bulldogs (UAAP)
Career highlights and awards
3x UAAP Juniors Basketball Champion (2011, 2013, 2015)

Playing career

Jeff Napa[3] was part of the first-ever NU Bulldogs men's basketball team that made it to the Final Four phase of the UAAP basketball tournament in UAAP Season 64.[2] He also tied the record held by Allan Caidic for the most number of three-points made in a single UAAP game. However, the Bulldogs did not advance in the Finals series after their loss against De La Salle Green Archers in the final four series.

After his collegiate basketball career, Napa played for the teams John-O, Viva Mineral Water and Fash Liquid Laundry Detergent in the Philippine Basketball League.

Coaching career

In 2005, Manny Dandan, the then-head coach of NU Bulldogs invited Napa to join the team as an assistant coach and he later accepted it.[2] Napa was later appointed as Head Coach of NU Bullpups junior's basketball team where he successfully steered three championships (Season 74, 76 and 78) with the squad in the last five years.[4]

Move to Letran Knights

Napa emerged as one of the frontrunners for the coaching job of the Letran Knights, replacing NCAA Season 91 men's basketball champion coach Aldin Ayo who is now the head coach of the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP.[5] Right after the championship run of NSNU Bullpups on the UAAP Season 78 juniors basketball tournament, Napa openly admitted in an interview that he is in talks with the Colegio de San Juan de Letran officials about his possibility to take over the coaching duty for Letran Knights.[6] The search committee unanimously voted for Napa after a series of interviews of applicants including Napa, Mapua Cardinals assistant coach Randy Alcantara, Adamson Falcons assistant coach Mike Fermin, and Letran alumnus Elvis Tolentino.[7]

On March 8, 2016, Napa was appointed as the new head coach of Letran Knights men's basketball team in a news conference held at the Salon de Actos in the Letran's main campus in Intramuros, Manila.[8][9]

He also decided to stay in the NU Bullpups program as a team consultant.[2] Napa's deputy Manabat, who is also the husband of volleyball player Dindin Santiago-Manabat, took over as head coach of the Bullpups starting Season 79. Manabat, Jay Agleron, and Leo Pujante also joined the coaching staff of the Knights.[10]

Napa will be the second non-Letran alumni to take the coaching job of the men's basketball team, after Louie Alas, who handled the team that won three championships in NCAA men's basketball.

Coaching record

Collegiate record

Season	Team	Eliminations				Playoffs
		W	L	PCT	Finish	PG	W	L	PCT	Results
2016	CSJL	9	9	.500	6th	Did not qualify.
2017	CSJL	9	9	.500	5th	2	1	1	.500	Won over Arellano in the First round, Lost to San Sebastian in the 4th-seed playoff.
2018	CSJL	13	5	.722	3rd	1	0	1	.500	Lost to Lyceum in the semifinals.
Totals		31	23	.574		3	1	2	.333	0 championships

References

1. Villar, Joey (March 11, 2004). "Fash teems with scorers for Unity Cup". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
2. Olivares, Rick (March 8, 2016). "New Knights coach Jeff Napa looks forward to challenge". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
3. "NU Bulldogs in fighting form". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 6, 2001. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
4. Lagunzad, Jerome (March 7, 2016). "Letran set to name Jeff Napa as Knights new head coach". Fox Sports Asia. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
5. Terrado, Reuben (February 26, 2016). "NU juniors coach Jeff Napa has inside track on Letran Knights coaching job". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
6. Terrado, Reuben (March 7, 2016). "Jeff Napa was formally named Letran Knights head coach in press conference". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
7. Riego, Norman Lee Benjamin (March 8, 2016). "Napa a unanimous choice for Letran search committee". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
8. "Letran to formally name Jeff Napa as Knights coach". The Philippine Star. March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
9. Bracher, Jane (March 8, 2016). "Jeff Napa named new Letran Knights coach". Rappler. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
10. Li, Matthew (March 8, 2016). "Napa takes on new challenge as Letran head coach". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved March 8, 2016.