Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — After their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) conquest last year, the National University (NU) Bulldogs are as confident as they are pressured heading into the new season.
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NU coach Eric Altamirano said during the league’s press conference on Tuesday (September 1) the Bulldogs are marked men now following a season where they had been written off before putting the stranglehold on the championship in a classic ending.
“We’re both (confident and pressured),” said Altamirano, who has turned long-time league doormat NU into a league powerhouse.
“Last year, we are under the radar pero this year the target is on our back.”
Hence, the Bulldogs should approach this season the same way they did last season, according to the amiable coach.
“We cannot come in this season knowing that we’re the champions. Tapos na yun e. We have to treat it the way we approached it last season: hungry and driven,” he said. “I think yun din yung mindset namin ngayong season.”
Altamirano said he will be relying on veterans Gelo Alolino and Alfred Aroga, who accrued the invaluable experience from last year’s championship, as they gun for back-to-back titles.
“We’re still relying on Gelo Alolino and Alfred Aroga,” he said.
But he is also expecting the new faces to step up in a season where everyone is a threat to NU’s throne.
“Halos lahat threat. You can never discount anybody like last season,” he said.
