The NU Bulldogs are the collegiate men's baketball team of the National University (NU), which play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the premiere sports league in the country.
History
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.
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.
However, by the 1980s, 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.
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.
77th season
In the 77th season of the league, the NU Bulldogs made a title run. At the start of the season, they were at the top of the standings above ADMU and DLSU (teams that are expected to come out strong in the season).
In the 2nd round of the tournament, the Bulldogs fell on the 4th spot tied with UE Red Warriors. They faced UE on a Knockout Game for the 4th seed, which they won 51–49. They have beaten the 1st seeded team in the league which is the ADMU Blue Eagles in 2 Do-or-Die games, making them the 2nd 'Number 4' team in the UAAP History to defeat the Number 1 team.
After 44 years, NU made it again to the UAAP Finals. They faced the FEU Tamaraws in three games. After 60 long years of title drought, the National U Bulldogs clinched the title after winning against FEU, 75–59, in a Do-or-Die match.
As of UAAP Season 85, NU Bulldogs won two championship title in the UAAP, UAAP Season 17 (1954) and UAAP Season 77 (2014).
Roster
The NU Bulldogs Basketball Team
Head coaches
c. 1954: Skip Guinto
2001–02: Manny Dandan
2003–04: Rico Perez
2005–09: Manny Dandan
2010: Eric Gonzales
2011–16: Eric Altamirano
2017–19: Jamike Jarin
2020: Goldwin Monteverde
2021–present: Jeff Napa
Season-by-season records
Team awards
UAAP
Father Martin Cup
FilOil Eco Oil Preseason Cup
Individual awards
Most Valuable Player (Season)
Most Valuable Player (Finals)
Notable players
Antonio Villamor
Bobby Ray Parks Jr. Cris Bolado Dennice Villamor Froilan Baguion Danny Ildefonso Gelo Alolino Glenn Khobuntin Jeff Napa Jewel Ponferada Jun Papa Lordy Tugade Marion Magat Matthew Aquino Narciso Bernardo Reden Celda Robby Celiz Troy Rike Troy Rosario