After losing three key players at the end of the 2003 season, life is expected to be just as difficult for the NU (National University) Bulldogs this year.

Coach Rico Perez, however, firmly believes that his team, which won only three of 14 assignments last year, has the courage and confidence to keep up the fight in the 67th UAAP basketball season that unfolds July 10 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Froilan Baguion, Ronnie Cajayon and Brian Tolentino, which formed NU’s offensive clout over the last couple of years, will no longer be around, having finished their studies. Left to carry the load is center Rhey Mendoza.

"We have some holdovers. But they all had insignificant stats last year so they have to step up this time," said Perez, in his third year as NU mentor.

Two promising rookies in Howard Flor and Edwin Asoro, according to Perez, will be counted up in this year’s UAAP season where Far Eastern University will go all out to defend the men’s crown.

Perez is also counting on the fact that the Bulldogs, despite the underdog tag, scored their three victories last year against favored opponents like University of the Philippines, La Salle and Ateneo, then the reigning champion.

"We led by as many as 20 points against Ateneo and even more against La Salle. Against FEU, we forced them into 44 turnovers. How we did that was unbelievable. But unfortunately, we couldn’t sink our baskets and lost," said Perez.

Things started well for the Bulldogs last year as they won the Fr. Martin Cup barely weeks before the UAAP season started.

Too bad, the team seemed to have peaked too early and looked tired, sluggish and spent when it came to the UAAP.

"We failed to maintain the condition that won us the Fr. Martin Cup. We peaked too early. Kaya noong bumagsak ang laro, parang sa bangin nahulog. (Then it’s like we fell into a ravine)," said Perez.

To avoid a similar fate, the Bulldogs skipped this year’s Fr. Martin Cup won by La Salle over Adamson.

"We skipped the tournament to avoid a burnout. Specially for this year where we intend to do a lot of running. We have to run because we’re small. We’ve been the smallest ever since," according to Perez.

Asked for an early forecast, Perez pointed to FEU, Ateneo, La Salle and Adamson as the teams to beat this year.

"I think it’s going to be FEU, Ateneo, La Salle and Adamson," he said. "But we’ll give all them a bite."