Bulldogs take crack at first title in 60 years

MANILA, Philippines - The National U Bulldogs can wash away all the heartaches and misery of the last 60 years with a winning performance in the deciding Game Three of the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball finals against Far Eastern U on Wednesday.

Holding the longest title drought among the field, the ravenous Bulldogs got themselves into position to finally pull through after routing the Tams, 62-47, in a record-setting Game Two.

That was the fourth do-or-die match the NU cagers have hurdled in the playoffs.

The Bulldogs first survived the KO for No. 4 with University of the East then eked out a reversal against a top-seeded Ateneo team that enjoyed twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. The Tams prevailed in the finals opener, 75-70, sending NU in a win-or-go-home situation in Game Two.

“One game na lang talaga (It’s down to one last game), you can never look back. Throw everything out and just focus on that one game. That’s the date with destiny for this team,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano.

He expects a dogfight against FEU, which is aiming to end its own nine-year dry spell.

“I always tell the boys it’s always different every game so don’t expect it will be the same (as last time). When we lost the first game, I said things will be different come the second game. So coming to the third game, it’s gonna be a different ballgame also and we have to be ready,” he said.

If they succeed, the Bulldogs will make history as the first fourth seed to ever capture the title in the Final Four era – a big achievement for a school that lingered in the cellar for the longest time until the family of taipan Henry Sy came in and started infusing life into NU’s sports programs in the 2000s.

When the Bulldogs leveled the series last Wednesday, perhaps the happiest person among the 24,896 inside the Big Dome was Arlene Royo, a member of the Paguia family who used to own NU.

She was there when the Bulldogs won their first UAAP title in 1954 and shared their sorrows during their long years in the doghouse.

“This time, I always say, ‘Thank you Lord.’ I’m so happy, with all the NU community cheering. I’m very, very happy,” Royo told the website Spin.ph.

NU is also looking for a double-celebration as the Lady Bulldogs had already collared the women’s tiara, winning all their 16 assignments in a perfect season.

Notes: The UAAP announced that Wednesday’s Game Three will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum instead of the MOA Arena, as previously slated. Tipoff will be at 4 p.m.