NU gears up for UAAP hosting

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY is readying itself for an unforgettable hosting of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 75, which is slated to start on July 14 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The crown in the basketball tournament remains to be the Bulldogs’ top priority as they aim to end a title drought that has already reached more than six decades.

“This is the first hosting of National University with our new partners the SM group of companies.  We are all excited,” said UAAP Season 75 president Nilo Ocampo in his statement that was released to the press yesterday. “We want to show it to our fans, supporters, especially our alumni and make them proud of our school.”

The Bulldogs are set to open their season at the aforementioned MOA, which is arguably the country’s most state-of-the-art stadium that was patterned after the Phillips Arena, the home of the NBA squad Atlanta Hawks.

“We can call this the home of the Bulldogs,” said Ocampo. “Sixty percent of our men’s basketball games will be at MOA Arena.”

An explosive opening weekend awaits basketball fans, as National U, starring last season’s Most Valuable Player Bobby Ray Parks, takes on University of the East at 2 p.m. right after the hour-long opening ceremonies, while University of Santo Tomas battles Far Eastern University at 4 p.m. Ateneo’s drive for a fifth consecutive seniors basketball championship starts on the next day against Adamson after the 2 p.m. duel between La Salle and University of the Philippines. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio