After S74 debacle, NU Bulldogs ready to take the leap

A few minutes after clinching their first-ever FilOil preseason championship, the National University Bulldogs' celebration spilled over to the dugout.

High-fives here and there filled the air, cagers screamed in euphoria and the coaches went over numbers that were reasons why they were sitting on top of the collegiate basketball world at that very moment.

"Congratulations," coach Eric Altamirano told his wards, breaking into that smile that has been seen more regularly in this title-winning romp.

Altamirano went on to praise the Bulldogs, noting the hard work they put in as they sliced through all opposition in the league in an 11-game winning streak. Staunch supporter Hans Sy also offered his congratulations as he finally saw the effort of a rebuilding program bear fruit in the biggest tournament they've won since the SM Group bought a majority stake in the school in 2008.

After a few more pleasantries, each NU player – all 15 of them – said a word of prayer. Then the group went at the center of the cramped room, with players, coaches, team managers, supporters, ball boys and this writer, and shouted one word: TOGETHER!

If there is one big difference between the Bulldogs of Season 74 and this one, it is these young bunch of cagers have learned to trust each other more.

The disappointment of 2011 haunted them for some time, especially after the Sampaloc-based squad entered the UAAP as one of the favorites to clinch a Final Four slot. Reality bit this NU crew hard and as they saw it first-hand, the UAAP is a different animal altogether – more ferocious and can chomp on easy prey like the Bulldogs.

    Brace for the return of Bobby Ray Parks and the fiercer NU Bulldogs. (Photo by The STAR's Jun Mendoza)

Yes, Bobby Ray Parks won his MVP award, but they were nowhere near contention for a Final Four spot after screeching to an abysmal first round. Emmanuel Mbe was playing lost, their point guard play was shaky at best and Parks had his moments of "choking," most notably in their shocking 72-71 defeat to University of the East, when the six-foot-four Fil-American flubbed two free throws with 7.7 seconds left and missed a potential game-winner.

Parks was compared to LeBron James that time, with critics saying that, like the three-time NBA MVP, Parks cannot deliver in crunch time.

And now, after James won his first NBA crown, it is Parks' time to silence naysayers with what could be a huge season for the UAAP hosts.

Sure, the FilOil championship was a morale-booster, an inspiration of sorts to a team that is pressured not only by the NU community, but by virtually anyone who ardently follows collegiate basketball, to make its mark in Season 75.

To this, Altamirano has a reminder.

"You know that we still have a job to do," he tells his team. "There's a full season ahead. Let this win inspire us and motivate us. But the hunger has to be there."

Altamirano expounded what the Bulldogs did and what they have to do in the UAAP.

"Today, you played for each other," he said. "Individuals win games but teams win championships. There will be obstacles and it will not be easy."

"But we can overcome it if we work hard. Everything we do, we offer to God."

The hunger. The togetherness. The faith in God. Things probably lacking last year for NU as their supposed grand entrance served as a rude awakening that getting a scoring machine who could do it all is the answer to an almost six-decade championship drought.

These Bulldogs have licked their wounds and learned their lessons and as far as they are concerned, there is no way to go but up.