To play against the NU Bulldogs in UAAP Season 89 is like death by a thousand cuts. 

The Bulldogs’ objective on every possession is to attack the paint; how they do that, though, comes in a variety of ways. There are times they bring the ball down to their side of the court, pass into the post, and it’s there you’ll see a slow but steady drop step into a basket. Other times, NU’s players start from behind the 3-point line, put their shoulder down and impose their will on an unfortunate defender as they drive to the basket. And then there are moments the Bulldogs punish poor boxouts with offensive rebounds that can prove costly when converted into points. 

It sounds like a simple and perhaps boring set of plays, but that was the recipe for NU’s victory over the UST Growling Tigers. 

A look at the box score offers one side of the story thanks to a couple of numbers that stand out: 59-29. A margin that wide would certainly raise eyebrows, especially when you realize it’s the rebounding disparity between the Bulldogs and the Tigers. 

NU wasn’t fazed by UST’s early 3-point barrage as they played the long game, wearing down the Tigers until they couldn’t execute in the final moments of the game. Eventually, UST’s shots weren’t falling and the Bulldogs were happy to grab the rebounds that led to more possessions they could capitalize on. 

Since the UAAP’s post-pandemic resumption, NU has made it to three of the last five Final Fours, a feat that puts them in the conversation with the DLSU Green Archers, UP Fighting Maroons, and the Ateneo Blue Eagles, all of whom were post-pandemic champions. The Bulldogs have lost twice to the eventual champions (both times the Green Archers) and it has certainly stung to be close to the finals yet come up short. 

However, this group is battle-tested and balanced, with no go-to guy but instead a bunch of players who can play their role to a tee and contribute to a victory. Reinhard Jumamoy is the lead playmaker for NU and continues to build houses with his shooting, but there are moments when his shot falls at the right place and at the right time. PJ Palacielo is not afraid to battle in the trenches with taller players and has emerged as a primary frontcourt option for the Bulldogs. Meanwhile, Mo Diassana is establishing himself now that he has a clean bill of health. 

Put together, NU can be disruptive for teams that prefer finesse over brute force. There are teams unafraid of the moment, but the Bulldogs are unafraid of whoever is in front of them. That nuance could spell the difference between a trip to the UAAP Finals or another disappointing exit. NU head coach Jeff Napa has been lauded for his consistency, but a consistent exit may not be what the Bulldogs management want, especially if they feel that they are a few pieces away from becoming a post-pandemic champion. 

So perhaps the NU Bulldogs’ style of play in UAAP Season 89 is a measure of desperate basketball, but who can blame them? They’ve been knocking on the door of the UAAP Finals for so long, that perhaps it may be better off for them if they just barge through the door and break it open.