NU now gets the services of returning big man Omar John as the Bulldogs chase a Final Four return in UAAP Season 88.
NU head coach Jeff Napa saw Omar John as a game changer for the Bulldogs, with the Senegalese center returning after a year off to help his team beat the UE Red Warriors to start UAAP Season 88.
After seeing former foreign student-athlete Mo Diassana go down with an injury in the opening game of Season 87, NU is now expecting a more steady presence in John.
John had a decent stat line in his opener for the Bulldogs, going for eight points, two rebounds, and one block in a 15-point win over UE.
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For Napa, it was a big improvement for the team.
“Syempre, iba pa rin meron kang 6’10”. Kahit papano, extra body din yan. Hindi naw-worn out yung mga other bigs na magtrabaho talaga ng todo. Still, masaya kami for Omar nakabalik siya,” Napa said.
“Then yung masaya kami kasi ang laki ng pinagbago niya na talagang inembrace niya kung ano yung task para sa kanya, yung role sa kanya.”
Growth mindset
John’s return didn’t just mean that the Bulldogs now had a reliable center to lean on.
Rather, they also saw a better version of John this time around, thanks to more than a year’s worth of growth when he was not in NU’s UAAP lineup.
Having to face other formidable bigs in the UAAP like Collins Akowe of UST and Mo Konateh of FEU, NU will Omar to be as his best, especially as the Bulldogs try to creep into the Final Four after missing out last year.
“At the same time, yun nga, yung maturity [niya nag-improve] in terms of his attitude. So, kahit papano yun nga, magiging consistent siya don. Kasi ang laki ng tulong para sa kanya, at saka the same thing para din sa team talaga. At least, nage-enjoy din siya maglaro ngayon., Napa said.
“Hindi man totally dominating pero masaya ako at least na-held down niya kahit papano when he’s guarding the other bigs. Binigay niya yung best niya. So, mataas yung efficiency niya malaking bagay samin talaga yung merong extra body na yun yung naging main issue namin last season.”
NU hopes to get more production from John when the Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, September 27, against the FEU Tamaraws at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.