Tamed Bulldog: NU hopes to rediscover old fighting form

MANILA, Philippines – It seems only a limited few knew that National University also has its share of glory in the 71-year history of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). NU is one of the founders of the league, along with the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, and Far Eastern University in 1938. Since then it has won 11 UAAP titles, including the overall crown during the 1986 season, tucked away in their Sampaloc campus. NU’s past triumphs were never highlighted even when media attention grew in the UAAP – thanks to the storied Ateneo-La Salle rivalry, giving the impression that the Bulldogs are the league’s traditional whipping boys and "thank you" squad. But aside from winning the 1986 General Championship, NU also won a title each in basketball (men) and football and twice each in baseball, chess, swimming, and volleyball. NU’s lone basketball title happened way back in 1954 with the legendary Olympian Narciso Bernardo as the King Bulldog. It took NU 23 years to be able to return to the finals in 1977, only to lose the title to the Adamson Falcons. And when the league started using the Final Four format in 1994, NU surprised everyone by entering the semifinals for the first time in 2001. After that, the Bulldogs returned to their usual selves, occupying once again their old place at the cellar. NU’s 2001 Final Four stint was the school’s latest achievement with all of its other triumphs taking place in different decades spanning 50 years. NU also holds the longest basketball title drought in the league with 54 years. The Bullpups nearly gave NU another basketball crown when they entered the 1984 finals but lost to Ateneo. NU’s other titles are in baseball, winning back-to-back in 1965 and 1966; men’s chess in 1982 and 1986; men’s football in 1948; men’s volleyball in 1953 and women’s volleyball in 1956; and men’s and women’s swimming both in 1952. – Jonathan Perez, GMANews.TV