NU Bulldogs basketball

The NU Bulldogs are the collegiate men's basketball team of the National University (NU), which play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the premiere sports league in the country.

NU Bulldogs
UniversityNational University
Founded1920s
HistoryNU Bulldogs (1930s–present)
Head coachJeff Napa (4th season)
LocationSampaloc, Manila
NicknameBulldogs
ColorsBlue and Gold
   
UAAP Champion (2)
  • 1954
  • 2014

History

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In the early years of the UAAP, the NU Bulldogs were a competitive team in the league, winning a title in 1954. The Bulldogs were coached by Skip Guinto, who was approached by the Jhocsons, owners of NU, to coach their team. The Bulldogs relied on Antonio Villamor to defeat the FEU Tamaraws to win their first title.[1]

The Bulldogs then produced players such as Narciso Bernardo and Jun Papa, but never came close to a repeat Finals appearance, until Reynaldo Sigua was acquired by NU. Sigua led the Bulldogs to a Finals appearance in 1970 against the UE Red Warriors. The Red Warriors prevailed, winning their sixth consecutive UAAP title.[1]

By the 1980s, however, NU was perennially in the bottom ranking of the team standings. In the late 1990s, they improved their ranking by moving up to the middle of the team standings with now PBA stars Danny Ildefonso and Lordy Tugade in their team roster, but still failed to make it to the Final Four.[2]

In the last quarter of year 2008, the family of Henry Sy of SM Prime Holdings acquired majority ownership of the National University. Aside from improving school facilities, the new management has included in their corporate plan the improvement of NU's sports programs. After ten years, the National U Bulldogs made it again to the UAAP Final Four in 2012.[3]

UAAP Season 77

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At the start of UAAP Season 77, the NU Bulldogs were predicted to lose some ground in the standings due to the losses of key players like former UAAP MVP Ray Parks and foreign student athlete Emmanuel Mbe, but was still expected to compete due to the emergence of players like Troy Rosario, Gelo Alolino and Glenn Khobuntin.[4]

In the 2nd round of the tournament, the Bulldogs fell to the 4th spot in the standings. tied with the UE Red Warriors. They faced UE again in a knockout game for the 4th seed, which they won 51–49. They then defeated the 1st seed Ateneo Blue Eagles twice in the Final Four tournament (as Ateneo had a twice-to-beat advantage, due to their high seed), making them the 2nd number 4 seeded team in UAAP history to defeat a number 1 seeded team, as well as their first trip to the UAAP Finals since 1970.[5]

In the UAAP Season 77 Finals, the Bulldogs faced the FEU Tamaraws in three games, where they finally clinched the championship after winning Game 3, 75–59. This marked the NU Bulldogs' first UAAP Men's basketball championship win in 60 years.[6]

Roster

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The NU Bulldogs Basketball Team

NU Bulldogs roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Year High School
G 2   Baclaan, Kean 5'8" (1.73m) De La Salle Zobel
F 22   Parks, Bobby Mark 6'4" (1.93m)
C 18   John, Omar 6'10" (2.08m)
C 5   Palacielo, RJ 6'6" (1.98m)
G 8   Casinillo, LA 6'0" (1.83m)
G 44   Jumamoy, Reinhard 5'11" (1.8m)
G 12   Yu, Patrick Wilson 6'3" (1.91m)
G 11   Galinato, John 5'11" (1.8m)
G 9   Lim, Donn 6'1" (1.85m)
F 23   Manansala, Jolo 6'4" (1.93m)
G 13   Enriquez, Steve Nash 5'9" (1.75m)
F 20   Figueroa, Jake 6'3" (1.91m)
F 77   Padrones, Kenshin 6'4" (1.93m)
C 3   Gulapa, Joemakio 6'3" (1.91m)
C 24   Delos Reyes, Drex 6'8" (2.03m)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager
  • Vince So

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  •   Injured

Season-by-season records

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Until 1997, the UAAP primarily ranked the teams by tournament points using FIBA's method. Starting in 1998, the UAAP primarily ranked by winning percentage. There's no difference in ranking once all games were played, but in the middle of the season, rankings made by these two methods may differ.

Until 1997

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Season League Elimination round Playoffs
Pos GP W L Pts GP W L Results
1987 UAAP 8th/8 14 2 12 16 Did not qualify
1988 UAAP 8th/8 14 2 12 16 Did not qualify
1989 UAAP 8th/8 14 0 14 14 Did not qualify
1990 UAAP 8th/8 14 1 13 15 Did not qualify
1991 UAAP 8th/8 14 1 13 15 Did not qualify
1992 UAAP 8th/8 14 1 13 15 Did not qualify
1993 UAAP 8th/8 14 1 13 15 No playoffs held[a]
1994 UAAP 7th/7 12 0 12 12 Did not qualify
1995 UAAP 8th/8 14 2 12 16 Did not qualify
1996 UAAP 7th/8 14 4 10 18 Did not qualify
1997 UAAP 8th/8 14 3 11 17 Did not qualify

Since 1998

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Season League Elimination round Playoffs
Pos GP W L PCT GB GP W L Results
1998 UAAP 7th/8 14 5 9 .357 8 Did not qualify
1999 UAAP 7th/8 14 3 11 .214 8 Did not qualify
2000 UAAP 7th/8 14 4 10 .286 8 Did not qualify
2001 UAAP 4th/8 14 7 7 .500 5 2 1 1 Lost semifinals vs La Salle
2002 UAAP 8th/8 14 2 12 .143 11 Did not qualify
2003 UAAP 8th/8 14 3 11 .214 8 Did not qualify
2004 UAAP 8th/8 14 1 13 .071 10 Did not qualify
2005 UAAP 8th/8 14 1 13 .071 11 Did not qualify
2006 UAAP 7th/7 12 3 9 .250 7 Did not qualify
2007 UAAP 6th/8 14 6 8 .429 8 Did not qualify
2008 UAAP 8th/8 14 2 12 .143 11 Did not qualify
2009 UAAP 7th/8 14 3 11 .214 10 Did not qualify
2010 UAAP 5th/8 14 7 7 .500 5 Did not qualify
2011 UAAP 5th/8 14 6 8 .429 7 Did not qualify
2012 UAAP 3rd/8 14 9 5 .643 3 1 0 1 Lost semifinals vs UST
2013 UAAP 1st/8 14 10 4 .714 2 0 2 Lost semifinals vs UST
2014 UAAP 4th/8 14 9 5 .643 2 6 5 1 Won Finals vs FEU
2015 UAAP 4th/8 14 7 7 .500 4 1 0 1 Lost semifinals vs UST
2016 UAAP 5th/8 14 5 9 .357 8 Did not qualify
2017 UAAP 6th/8 14 5 9 .357 8 Did not qualify
2018 UAAP 7th/8 14 4 10 .286 8 Did not qualify
2019 UAAP 8th/8 14 2 12 .143 12 Did not qualify
2020[b] UAAP Season canceled
2021[c] UAAP 6th/8 14 6 8 .429 7 Did not qualify
2022 UAAP 3rd/8 14 9 5 .643 2 1 0 1 Lost semifinals vs UP
2023 UAAP 3rd/8 14 10 4 .714 2 1 0 1 Lost semifinals vs La Salle
  1. ^ UST won all elimination round games. Based on the rules at that time, they were then named automatic champions, and other teams were ranked by elimination round finish.
  2. ^ Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. ^ Season postponed to early 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Team awards

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UAAP

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Season Tournament Title Ref
1954 UAAP Season 17 Champions [7]
2014 UAAP Season 77 Champions [8]

Father Martin Cup

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Season Tournament Title Ref
2010 Father Martin Cup Division 2 Champions (Men's Seniors) [9]
2011 Father Martin Cup Summer Champions [10]
2013 Father Martin Cup Summer Champions
2018–19 Father Martin Cup Open Champions

FilOil Eco Oil Preseason Cup

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Season Tournament Title Ref
2012 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Champions
2013 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Runners up
2022 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Champions

Individual awards

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Most Valuable Player (Season)

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Season Tournament Player Ref
2011 UAAP Season 74 Bobby Ray Parks Jr. [11]
2012 UAAP Season 75 Bobby Ray Parks Jr. [12]

Most Valuable Player (Finals)

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Season Tournament Player Ref
2014 UAAP Season 76 Alfred Aroga [13]

Head coaches

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Notable players

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Quiteles, Rodneil (October 3, 2014). "NU's last taste of hoops glory". Rappler. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  2. ^ Lozada, Mei-Lin (October 9, 2014). "Atoy Co and Danny I on transformation of NU Bulldogs: 'Nothing beats having a padrino'". SPIN.ph.
  3. ^ "Henry Sy buys 60% of National University". GMA News. August 18, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  4. ^ Garcia, Pio (July 8, 2014). "Get Your Game On: A UAAP Season 77 Mini-Preview". Philippine STAR.
  5. ^ Bracher, Jane (October 1, 2014). "NU beats Ateneo for first Finals appearance since 1970". Rappler.
  6. ^ Bracher, Jane (October 15, 2014). "NU beats FEU, ends 60-year UAAP title drought". Rappler.
  7. ^ Reuben Terrado (October 24, 2014). "NU Bulldogs' 1954 UAAP championship trophy has long been gone. Find out what happened". SPIN.ph.
  8. ^ Reuben Terrado (October 15, 2014). "NU Bulldogs end six decades of futility by beating FEU Tamaraws for UAAP championship". SPIN.ph.
  9. ^ "Martin Cup victory big boost to NU program".
  10. ^ "NU Bulldogs Represent Philippines".
  11. ^ "mvps-of-uaap-74-parks-palmera-pingoy". Inquirer. October 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  12. ^ "nus-parks-repeats-mvp-teng-top-rookie". ABS-CBN. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "alfred-aroga-finals-mvp-national-university-uaap-mens-championship-far-eastern-university-game-3". Spin. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c "NU relieves Dandan as Bulldogs mentor". ABS-CBN News. September 6, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  15. ^ "Bullpups start barking in UAAP; Bulldogs also making noise". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  16. ^ Terrado, Jonas (December 1, 2016). "NU Bulldogs coach Altamirano resigns". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  17. ^ Bonilla, Ramon Rafael C. (January 5, 2017). "Jarin starts job as Bulldogs coach | BusinessMirror". Business Mirror. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  18. ^ Lozada, Bong (October 30, 2019). "Jamike Jarin to take 'step back' from coaching after failed NU campaign". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  19. ^ Olivares, Rick. "What head coach Goldwyn Monteverde brings to NU Bulldogs". Philstar.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  20. ^ "Jeff Napa returns home as NU Bulldogs head coach". RAPPLER. October 9, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2022.