Baculi out as NU top sports official

MANILA, Philippines - National University executive Nilo Ocampo confirmed swirling talks that athletic director Junel Baculi is leaving NU.

“He has indicated that he will resign, it’s just a matter of formalities,” Ocampo said of Baculi, who helped chart NU’s turnaround from league doormat to champions and certified contenders in other sports.

“He wants to go back to his passion, coaching, and pursue it full time,” he added.

Baculi, who last called the shots for Globalport in the PBA, didn’t reply to queries at presstime.

According to Ocampo, Baculi will continue to represent NU in the UAAP board until the end of the ongoing Season 77, where the Bulldogs snapped a 60-year title drought in centerpiece men’s basketball and annexed the women’s hoops plum while ruling men’s beach volleyball, men’s badminton, men’s and women’s lawn tennis and cheerdance.

“Malaki naitulong niya sa amin (He has helped NU a lot) but we can’t stop him kung iyan ang gusto niya talaga (if he is determined to leave),” said Ocampo, who added that NU hasn’t tapped a replacement yet.