MANILA, Philippines - With a new partner and a brand new venue, host National University guarantees a blockbuster staging of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 75 which unwraps on July 14 at the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena.
“This is the first hosting of National University with our new partners the SM Group of Companies. We are all excited,” said UAAP Season 75 president Nilo Ocampo. “We want to show it to our fans, supporters, especially our alumni and make them proud of our school.”
What makes this season’s hosting so special is National U will hold most of its basketball games at the Mall of Asia Arena, the country’s newest sporting stadium.
“We can call this the home of the Bulldogs,” said Ocampo. “Sixty percent of our men’s basketball games will be at MOA Arena.”
The Bulldogs are eyeing no less than a championship to end a long title drought spanning six decades and cap what could be a record season.
And the Bulldogs’ unbeaten title romp in the recent FilOil Flying V Pre-Season Cup more than underscored their readiness to contend for this year’s UAAP crown.
With the help of the sports program initiated by National U athletic director Junel Baculi, also the league’s secretary-treasurer, the Bulldogs are expected to figure well in other sports aside from basketball.
In Season 74, the Bullpups ruled juniors basketball and the Bulldogs topped the baseball competitions, ending NU’s winless campaign in any sport in the seniors division.
“I think it will be a very good year for us in all events,” said Ocampo.
Other teams to watch out for National U are men’s lawn tennis and men’s badminton, both finished second in Season 74, as well as in men’s volleyball, where the Bulldogs won a couple of off-season crowns.
“Now, for sure not just in basketball but in all events, and we hope we can give everyone a tough competition, ” said Ocampo.
Meanwhile, Ocampo said that the Mall of Asia can host the finals of women’s and men’s volleyball, which is held in the second semester.
An explosive opening weekend awaits basketball fans, as National U, starring last season’s Most Valuable Player Bobby Ray Parks, takes on University of the East at 2 p.m. right after the hour-long opening ceremonies, while University of Santo Tomas battles Far Eastern University at 4 p.m.
Ateneo’s drive for a fifth consecutive seniors basketball championship starts the next day with a showdown with Adamson at 4 p.m. right after the 2 p.m. duel between La Salle and University of the Philippines.