Some members of the NU Football team at the PSA Forum Tuesday. Photo by Angelica Garcia/PDI trainee
After concluding the 15th Ang Liga tournament in third place, the National University football team is aiming for nothing lower than a Final Four spot next UAAP season.
The Bulldogs finished at sixth place last season due to a spate of injuries and suspensions but are confident they will come back stronger next year.
“From here on, I don’t think we’re going to settle for less than the top four,” co-team manager Joseph Garcia said in the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association forum at Tapa King in Cubao Tuesday.
With La Salle and Ateneo getting most of the talents from Luzon, the Bulldogs, on the other hand, capitalized on recruiting from Visayas and Mindanao.
NU now boasts a 78-man juniors and seniors pool, which include blue-chip recruits from the recent Palarong Pambansa last April.
“I think with what we have now with very competitive teams both from the seniors and juniors program, we’re a team to watch out for,” Garcia said.
The Bulldogs will join the 16th edition of Ang Liga this July and the University Games in October to help improve the team’s performance.
“Our preparation for next season is to put the players in an environment where the competition is always on the highest level because that’s the only way they would become very natural players,” said NU head coach Mari Aberasturi. Ma. Angelica D. Garcia and Justin Robert Valencia