Bulldogs eye Filoil QF against Blazers

MANILA, Philippines — Troy Rosario hopes to lead National University anew as the Bulldogs gun for a quarterfinal berth against St. Benilde in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup Friday.

“As a veteran, I need to show the young guys how we should play,” said Rosario, the senior forward who fired 18 points in the Bulldogs’ 60-52 triumph against Emilio Aguinaldo College last week.

The Bulldogs (4-1), admittedly still adjusting from the departure of their team star Ray Parks, shoot for a fifth victory against the Blazers (3-2) in Group C at 4 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

A victory will put the Bulldogs in the company of quarterfinalists Southwestern University (5-1) from Group A, Group B’s Far Eastern University (5-0) and San Beda (5-0) and Group C’s Centro Escolar University (6-0).

Eliminated teams Letran (2-3) and the Philippine Under-18 squad (0-5) wrap up their campaigns in Group B at 2:15 p.m.

“We’re still learning,” NU coach Eric Altamirano said of his Bulldogs, who are dealing with the departure of two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Parks. “I’m trying to give everybody a chance to see who will fit in our rotation.”