There was a point in time when the NU Bulldogs looked like they may weather the storms ahead. Despite losing Mo Diassana for the rest of the season, the Bulldogs managed to push the defending champion DLSU Green Archers to the limit, and slipped past the FEU Tamaraws. 

Since then, though, they’ve only managed to secure one victory. 

NU went through a four-game slump before beating the Ateneo Blue Eagles to end the first round of Season 87. They averted the bottom of the standings with the victory and as fate would have it, they were set to face Blue Eagles for their second round opener. 

It was just a different ending this time. 

Ateneo did not want to add to their worst start in recent memory and held a 32-19 lead with 4:56 left in the first half. The Bulldogs eventually rallied, but it seemed that the Blue Eagles grew up in between rounds and exacted revenge on one of their many first-round tormentors. 

NU clearly showed their ability to rally back and stay close, but can they finish the job? Sure, they’ve had a couple of wins so far, but they’ve come against the cellar dwellers of Season 87. The Bulldogs’ lack of a go-to option initially revealed itself in their Season 87 opener against the Green Archers and it continues to hound them. 

Jake Figueroa has been NU’s most consistent player through eight games, averaging 11.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists and has done his best given the opportunities of this season. But at the moment, it’s not enough to get the job done. 

Jolo Manansala and Kenshin Padrones have more or less averaged eight points and six rebounds, but they have either failed to pounce on late game opportunities or disappeared when the Bulldogs needed to get over the hump. 

NU’s offensive production off the bench as a whole may be the second-best in the UAAP, but much of it has come from inside. When the Bulldogs face taller teams, it only highlights their perimeter deficiencies, as their 3-point shooting is the second worst behind the Tamaraws. There’s not much they can do to spread the floor so when the games get tight, the points become few and far between, more so when their defense is having an off night. 

At 2-6, NU is tied with Ateneo and FEU for the worst record in the league and their schedule does not do any favors for their currently slim Final Four chances. After facing the Tamaraws on Wednesday, the Bulldogs will be going through the gauntlet of everyone else ahead of them in the standings. 

Statistically, it’s not over yet for the NU Bulldogs as they have more than a handful of games left on their schedule. However, the search for offensive production from the perimeter and in the clutch remains elusive, and until they do so, they’ll be lucky to be on the outside looking in.