At First Glance: National University Bulldogs

No roster turnover is good. Even better? Scoring a new foreign recruit to go along with the league MVP. Nice to have deep pockets?

The Good

For the third time in six decades, the Bulldogs are thinking championship.

Why third? Well, it’s the third year of Bobby Ray Parks, the best collegiate player in the land now that Calvin Abueva has moved to the pro ranks. NU has been barking and barking but lacks that bite in the final drive of the game.

Worry no more Bulldogs fans. Looks like NU is going for an encore in the Final Four and may as well end up in the title match opposite UST or Ateneo.

Parks is back for what can be his final MVP tour of duty. Aiding him at the back is improved Gelo Alolino, who has now transitioned from a two-guard to a real point guard. Also, Robin Rono is an able backup. Looking up backcourt wise for the Bulldogs. And if Altamirano runs into some problems, Parks can slide down to the point and he can employ Kyle Neypes who is practically a 2-3-4 guy.

But the best thing is, you still got Bobby Ray Parks. The LeBron James of college ball.

The Bad

When Parks handles that basketball, player movement dies down.

The four guys who don’t hold the leather are lamp posts. They do nada. They do zilch. They don’t even make an effort to free themselves up to keep guys off of Parks. That has to change if the Bulldogs want to win it all.

Also, what’s bad is that Glen Khobuntin is now next to useless. This guy still calls plays by himself. Never the team player, which is sad seeing that he had a potential to be the next Danny Ildefonso at the four spot for the Bulldogs.

You have the talent.

But not the attitude? Yeah. Congratulate Jet Rosario for figuring his own career path.

The Ugly

Teams have to contend with arguably the most athletic and probably the frontcourt with the most length. Neophyte Alfred Aroga is an absolute beast. Jet Rosario? He can mix it up down low or finesse it up top. This guy can ball folks.

Aroga, for all his 6’7” height, can handle the leather, put it on the deck and score off the bounce. Or he can outhustle you and outmuscle you for the inside stab. He crossed up San Beda’s Ola Adeogun really bad in FilOil play too.

Watch out for…

This should also be Jet Rosario’s arrival as a potent force in the UAAP. The guy stands what, 6’6” to 7”? He has long arms, has good footwork, sharp elbows and a deft touch. What you want in a developing big, he has. And he has vastly improved.

With Aroga and Parks being crowded by the defense, look to Rosario to jumpstart NU with timely hits and helping the team on the boards.