A week ago, the NU Bulldogs looked down and out. 

They not only lost a key player in Mo Diassana in the first game of UAAP Season 87, but they also had the worst record in the league heading into their second-round matchup against the UP Fighting Maroons. 

Now, the Bulldogs have sent the UAAP into a frenzy. 

NU never gave the Fighting Maroons a chance to establish themselves as the Bulldogs used a 12-4 run to take a 24-8 lead in the opening quarter. Stingy defense and a solid shooting performance from behind the 3-point line allowed NU to extend their lead to as large as 27 points midway through the final quarter. UP was clearly shell-shocked and while the Bulldogs may have felt the same way, they’d gladly take the victory at this point in the season. 

As it stands, NU is tied with the Ateneo Blue Eagles for the worst record in Season 87, but they still have a chance at advancing to the Final Four. Of course, the Bulldogs will need to win out the rest of their schedule and get some help from some of their peers, but to have a chance this late into the season is a blessing in itself. 

Their 258 fouls committed are the most in the UAAP and their perimeter game (24.8 percent from behind the 3-point line and 22.6 perimeter points per game) is the second-worst in the league behind the FEU Tamaraws, who themselves pulled off an upset over the UE Red Warriors earlier in the day. Opposing teams tend to also get a ton of second chances against NU (UAAP-worst 11.8 second chance points per game) and it comes partly due to shoddy production from the starters (38.9 starter points allowed per game versus 26.9 starter points per game). 

The numbers tell a somber story, but the win against the Fighting Maroons showed that there’s some promise for the Bulldogs, whether that’s in Season 87 or in the next one. NU head coach Jeff Napa has always gotten the most out of his players and has never been one to hide behind setbacks and excuses. 

Napa has made the Final Four in two of his last three seasons and while the six wins he can get at the most in Season 87 will be tied for his lowest number of wins with the Bulldogs, it could lead to another postseason appearance and one of his better coaching performances to date. 

However, the reality is that the NU Bulldogs are on the outside looking in when it comes to the Final Four. Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa isn’t too focused on where his team will end up and is rightly demanding that his players give their all to close out UAAP Season 87. After all, lady luck could reward them with a postseason appearance if things fall into place.