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.
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.
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.
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.
UAAP Season 77 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.
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.
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.
Roster
Season-by-season records 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 SeasonLeagueElimination roundPlayoffsPosGPWLPtsGPWLResults1987UAAP8th/81421216Did not qualify1988UAAP8th/81421216Did not qualify1989UAAP8th/81401414Did not qualify1990UAAP8th/81411315Did not qualify1991UAAP8th/81411315Did not qualify1992UAAP8th/81411315Did not qualify1993UAAP8th/81411315No playoffs held1994UAAP7th/71201212Did not qualify1995UAAP8th/81421216Did not qualify1996UAAP7th/81441018Did not qualify1997UAAP8th/81431117Did not qualify
Since 1998 SeasonLeagueElimination roundPlayoffsPosGPWLPCTGBGPWLResults1998UAAP7th/81459.3578Did not qualify1999UAAP7th/814311.2148Did not qualify2000UAAP7th/814410.2868Did not qualify2001UAAP4th/81477.5005211Lost semifinals vs La Salle2002UAAP8th/814212.14311Did not qualify2003UAAP8th/814311.2148Did not qualify2004UAAP8th/814113.07110Did not qualify2005UAAP8th/814113.07111Did not qualify2006UAAP7th/71239.2507Did not qualify2007UAAP6th/81468.4298Did not qualify2008UAAP8th/814212.14311Did not qualify2009UAAP7th/814311.21410Did not qualify2010UAAP5th/81477.5005Did not qualify2011UAAP5th/81468.4297Did not qualify2012UAAP3rd/81495.6433101Lost semifinals vs UST2013UAAP1st/814104.714—202Lost semifinals vs UST2014UAAP4th/81495.6432651Won Finals vs FEU2015UAAP4th/81477.5004101Lost semifinals vs UST2016UAAP5th/81459.3578Did not qualify2017UAAP6th/81459.3578Did not qualify2018UAAP7th/814410.2868Did not qualify2019UAAP8th/814212.14312Did not qualify2020UAAPSeason canceled2022 (S84)UAAP6th/81468.4297Did not qualify2022 (S85)UAAP3rd/81495.6432101Lost semifinals vs UP2023UAAP3rd/814104.7142101Lost semifinals vs La Salle2024UAAP7th/81459.3577Did not qualify2025UAAP1st/814113.786—202Lost semifinals vs La Salle
Honors
Team honors
University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Champions (2): 1954, 2014 Father Martin Cup Summer champions (2): 2011, 2013 Division 2 champions (1): 2010 Open champions (1): 2018–19 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Champions (3): 2012. 2013, 2022 U-Belt Collegiate Invitational Cup Champions (1): 2025
Player honors
UAAP Most Valuable Player Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (2): 2011, 2012 UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player Alfred Aroga (1): 2014
Head coaches c. 1954: Skip Guinto c. 70's-2000: Sonny Paguia 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
Notable players
Gelo Alolino Matthew Aquino Froilan Baguion Narciso Bernardo Cris Bolado Reden Celda Robby Celiz Danny Ildefonso Glenn Khobuntin Marion Magat Jeff Napa Jun Papa Bobby Ray Parks Jr. Jewel Ponferada Troy Rike Troy Rosario Lordy Tugade Antonio Villamor Dennice Villamor
Legend C Center PG Point Guard PF Power Forward SG Shooting Guard SF Small Forward
See also NU Lady Bulldogs basketball
References