Hans Sy’s next target for NU? A UAAP overall championship

MANILA, Philippines – One sport at a time, one championship at a time.

As National University added another title to their growing list, primary patron and chairman Hans Sy declared their next goal is to win a UAAP overall championship. 

“Now that we have this men’s championship, the next goal is really the overall championship,” Sy said after the NU Bulldogs won their first men’s basketball crown in 60 years on Wednesday, October 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “But it will take time because we still have to develop other sports.”

NU has only one general championship, which their seniors’ team won in the 1986-87 season. For many years, the school was considered easy prey for other UAAP member schools who have established and flourishing sports programs.

But since the Sy family of the SM Group of Companies acquired majority ownership of the school in 2008, its sports programs have been revamped and received the financial support it needed to compete with the best institutions.

In recent years, NU has gained the respect of the league as it rose to prominence in basketball, volleyball, cheerdance, badminton, and baseball. 

NU’s women’s basketball team won its first ever title this season with a sheer display of dominance as they swept the entire competition to claim the crown. The men’s basketball team has been a proven contender over the last 3 seasons, reaching the Final Four twice before winning it all this Season 77. 

The Bulldogs also reclaimed their men’s badminton title last September in an undefeated Season 77 as well. It was their second title in 3 years.

In volleyball, NU just completed a 3-peat in men’s beach volley last September, while their men’s squad are reigning back-to-back champions set to defend their title this season in the second semester.

And although the women’s volleyball team has yet to win a UAAP crown and has struggled despite its potential, the Lady Bulldogs are still considered contenders this upcoming volleyball season.

Meanwhile, in baseball, the Bulldogs have also been perennial contenders since the 72nd season where they made the first of 4 consecutive trips to the Final Four, including back to back Finals appearances in seasons 74 and 75. They won their third ever baseball title in Season 74. 

Even in cheerdance, which is not included in the tally of points for the general championship, the NU Pep Squad reigned supreme and are now two-time defending champions.

These are a testaments to how the school’s sports programs have been growing over the past few years. And it will not stop there.

“We’ve been doing well lately,” said Sy, who also added that the men’s basketball title will go down as one of his top 5 most memorable moments. “We will continuously develop all the sports that we’re not yet in. But one at a time.” 

However, it’s not just sports that Sy wants the school to excel in. He also yearns to further improve the education it offers.

“What I want to focus on in the next few years is really education. I want to produce a top-notcher.” – Rappler.com