FEU, NU basketball history provide UAAP Finals sideshow

 Mark Belo of FEU loses the ball on a tap by Jeth Rosario of NU. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines – The National University Bulldogs and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws are set to face off in a winner-take-all match for the University Athletics Association of the Philippines Season 77 men’s basketball title on Wednesday afternoon.

Aside from the intense action on the court, the cerebral chess match between the coaches and the frenzied cheering from the stands, the series is also filled with colorful history shared by two of the league’s oldest members.

Did you know…

…that NU, a founding member, has only one UAAP basketball title?

…that the Bulldogs won their first and only UAAP basketball title in 1954 at the expense of the Tamaraws, 41-36?

… that compared to NU’s one, FEU has 19 men’s basketball crowns?

…that FEU last won its UAAP title in 2005?

…that the last time the Bulldogs won the title, the President of the Philippines was Ramon Magsaysay? Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the President of the Philippines the last time the Tamaraws were UAAP champions.

…that the last time NU won the title, Ateneo and De La Salle University were still not part of the league, and that the year after FEU won its last championship, DLSU was suspended from the UAAP?

…that the women’s teams of NU and FEU also battled for the women’s basketball title with the Lady Bulldogs prevailing?

…that both NU and FEU had the best individual players in the UAAP the last two seasons? In Season 75, NU’s Bobby Ray Parks Jr. was named UAAP MVP, while FEU’s Terrence Romeo beat him for the award in Season 76. Both players, however, were not able to carry their teams to the Finals.

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