There was one moment where it seemed like the NU Bulldogs’ UAAP Season 87 campaign was over just as it started. 

In the Bulldogs’ Season 87 opener against the DLSU Green Archers, Mohamed Diassana was injured on defense and did not return. As of this writing, Diassana’s status is unknown, but the way the injury unfolded doesn’t offer an optimistic outlook at least in the near term. 

Losing an anchor in the frontcourt would have been demoralizing, yet NU bent but did not break. The Bulldogs continued to fight and it yielded great results. The likes of PJ Palacielo and Jake Figueroa cut the Green Archers’ frontcourt down to size by outsmarting their more fancied opponents. 

It was a prime example of hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. La Salle was out to get defensive stops, but a ball tip here and there or a quicker move to the ball flipped the outcome into NU’s favor. It didn’t matter that the Bulldogs had a bad shooting night from behind the 3-point line; rebounding their own misses led to better shots. 

Their efforts certainly wore down La Salle, but former NU Bullpup Kevin Quiambao proved to be inevitable. 

A loss like that would be deflating given how a few more stops and made baskets would have completed the upset. However, all’s not lost for NU. For one, this is just one game out of the 14 in the elimination round. Aside from that, the Bulldogs may have already faced their toughest opponent in the first round. 

NU was able to get an early barometer on where they’re at so they can use this to chart their course for the rest of Season 87. Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa has done a masterful job of getting the most out of his players, and the 50-33 bench points advantage NU had over DLSU adds further credibility to this. Undermanned as they may be going forward, best believe that the next-man-up mentality will atone for any losses. 

The loss to the Green Archers did reveal one thing: the Bulldogs needed a go-to option. Losing Kean Baclaan (to La Salle no less) was tough to say the least, especially as it took away someone who could give them a basket when the stakes go up. Figueroa is looking to take the mantle, but he will need to be more consistent from the perimeter because it will open up things for him and his teammates. If Palacielo keeps this effort up, that could be helpful, but NU would be happy to have him and Steve Nash Enriquez working together to exploit mismatches. 

The NU Bulldogs entered UAAP Season 87 as a Final Four contender and they definitely proved it with their valiant effort against the DLSU Green Archers. A loss hurts nonetheless, but how they use this defeat going forward could define their season, for better or for worse.