Preview: Can NU win it all?

Line-up:
ALOLINO, Joshua
BETAYENE, Henri
DE GUZMAN, Mark
IGNACIO, Jul Ahsri
JAVILLONAR, Jeoffrey
JEVELONA, Nico
KHOBUNTIN, Glenn
LABING-ISA, Cederick
MBE, Emmanuel
NEYPES, Kyle
PARKS, Bobby Ray Jr.
PEREZ, Tristan
RONO, Robin
ROSARIO, Spencer
SINGH, Ajeet
VILLAMOR, Lee

Head Coach:  Eric Altamirano

Assistants:
Joey Guanio
Victor Icasiano
Mon Jose
Jeff Napa

2012 may just be the year for the Bulldogs.  This season’s host school enters the UAAP basketball jousts with much excitement and confidence, following its conquest of the last Fil-Oil Cup.  NU actually swept all its games in the pre-season, and is planning to do the same in the UAAP.

Key Losses
why the Bulldogs are upbeat is that they have no major losses from last season.  No longer with the Sampaloc-based squad are Spencer Eman, Marlon Magat and Joseph Terso.

Key Additions
On the other hand, two significant additions are visible for National U.  Mark De Guzman, a transferee from the College of St. Benilde, is eager to make a mark this season.  He was the third best scorer for the Bulldogs in the Fil-Oil after Bobby Ray Parks and Emmanuel Mbe, with an average of 9.3 markers.  In the same tournament, he unleashed 23 triples in 11 games.  The other rookie expected to play a key role for NU this season is Henri Betayene, who is a defensive specialist.

Holdovers
Last year’s MVP Parks is determined to make his sophomore stint an even more memorable one by giving his school its first UAAP title in 58 years.  Easily the best all-around college player in the country today, the son of former PBA import Bobby Parks Sr. has displayed his scoring prowess in the Fil-Oil Cup, posting norms of 18.5 points, 5.4 caroms, 3.8 feeds and 1.3 steals, which were good enough to win another MVP plum.  Parks leads several key holdovers from Season 74, more notably Mbe, who had 14.6 markers, 11.6 boards and 1.6 blocks per game during the summer games.  Also returning for NU are Joshua Alolino, Jeoffrey Javillonar, Kyle Neypes, Robin Rono and Cederick Labing-isa.

Season Outlook, Strengths and Weaknesses
The Bulldogs are looking like they are ready to end a 58-year title drought in the UAAP.  They are deep, experienced and teeming with talent.  Plus they have Parks.  Coach Eric Altamirano should have an easy time making it to the playoffs.  NU is the total package.  In the Fil-Oil Cup, which they won, the Bulldogs ranked first in offense (79.7 points) and second in defense (61.1 points against).
 
They were also the best in field goals and assists.  Obviously, the Bulldogs will rely heavily on their offense to get a crack at the championship.  Although not a major weakness, NU needs to improve on its rebounding, especially against the other tall teams in the league like Ateneo, La Salle and FEU.  In the Fil-Oil, it ranked 11th in rebounding.

Prognosis
The Bulldogs are definitely contenders for the crown this year as they are solid in all positions.  The biggest challenge for them would be how to build a strong character and maintain their poise, being relatively new in the stature of title-contender.  They cannot afford to be too excited to dominate.  More than anything, it will be a test in mental toughness and maturity.  If the Bulldogs pass this test, a new dynasty may start to emerge in 2012.