National University will enter the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament in unfamiliar territory – territory they last navigated back in Season 77 (2014).
The Lady Bulldogs are now challengers once again, after seven straight seasons of starting the tournament as defending champions.
Their dynastic reign ended last year at the hands of the University of Santo Tomas, who won in three games, highlighted by an improbable comeback from 14 points down in the fourth quarter of Game 3.
However, Lady Bulldogs head coach Aris Dimaunahan is embracing the challenge of leading his team back to glory.
“We’re just moving forward from what happened last year. We just want to come out with a better mindset and focus, and hopefully, we can turn the tides again,” said Dimaunahan, now entering his third year as the team’s chief mentor.
“We just have to move forward, and as competitors, we always want to bounce back from defeat. That’s one of the challenges we have this year in the UAAP.”
Angel Surada, one of NU’s leaders, emphasized from Day 1 of their preparations that the team must learn from last year’s lessons. Expected to lead the Lady Bulldogs this season are Surada, along with Camille Clarin, Ann Pingol, and Tin Cayabyab.
“Dapat maging consistent kami from start until matapos yung season. Yun nga lagi kong sinasabi na walang place para maging kampante. Gagawin namin yung best namin para maibalik ulit sa amin,” said Surada.
“We gave it our all, but it’s a game. You win some, you lose some. Actually, what happened last year was a very humbling experience. Lesson learned talaga sa amin yun na huwag makampante.”
In addition to the usual leaders, Surada and Dimaunahan spoke highly of their incoming rookies – Cielo Pagdulagan, Marga Villanueva, and Xyza Pring.
The trio led NUNS to the Season 86 3×3 high school girls’ title.
Joining them is a transferee from Adamson University, Dindy Medina, who scored 28 points against NU during her rookie year in Season 85.
“Kampante ako sa mga rookies namin ngayon, lalo si Cielo, si Marga, si Xy, na malaki yung maitutulong nila sa team dahil more of attacker sila. Kailangan namin sila sa team namin, yun yung wala sa team namin last year,” said the do-it-all forward.
“We’ve got four new players coming in, and hopefully, they can make an impact right away in our hunt to bring back the crown to our school,” added Dimaunahan.
The Lady Bulldogs will open their bid for redemption against the De La Salle Lady Archers on Sunday, 5:30 PM, at the Adamson Gym.
