Bulldogs eye payback versus Maroons

MANILA, Philippines — League leader National U faces a tall order against title holder University of the Philippines to start the second round of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 4:30 p.m. with the Bulldogs (6-1) wanting to keep the driver’s seat after an impressive first-round campaign with only one defeat – a complete turnaround from its Final Four miss last year. Skidding Ateneo (4-3) and Far Eastern U (2-5) battle at 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs’ lone scar came against the Fighting Maroons (4-3), losing a 13-point second-half lead en route to a 66-59 defeat.

Surely, NU would need to be resilient and composed against an expected in-form UP that’s been slowly heating up after a flat 0-2 start.

“We have to refuel for the second round,” said NU coach Jeff Napa after his wards hacked out a gutsy 71-66 overtime win over Ateneo to end the first round.