INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Shooting guard Ajeet Singh is looking forward to making himself one of the more recognizable players in the UAAP hailing from the South.

The six-foot rookie will be one of the “dependables” for coach Manny Dandan as the National University Bulldogs strive for a better finish when UAAP season 82 kicks off this weekend.

The Bulldogs take on the UP Maroons in their first game this Sunday.

Singh said he is working hard on his defense while looking to contribute on offense by becoming a “slasher”, which he wants to be known by his native Iloilo, where he spent his high school days playing ball for St. Joseph along with fellow NU rookie Francis Marcelo.

“For now, I don’t expect people from Iloilo to be that proud of me but one day I know it will happen. I just have to do whatever it takes for it to come true,” said Singh, who transferred from San Beda College.

The Bulldogs are perennial cellar-dwellers but Singh prefers to be optimistic.

“We’re still rebuilding and the less people expect from us, the more chance we have of surprising them, if not this year maybe in the next few years,” he said.

He motivates himself with the saying “fall seven times, stand up eight’, which he hopes will soon happen to NU. “I know it won’t be easy for us but this won’t stop us from growing,” he said.