National University

A recruit of NU coach Eric Altamirano after the two worked together with the national youth team in 2009. The 5-foot-11 point guard readily proved he belonged with the Bulldogs behind his steady scoring (5.2 ppg) and playmaking chores, finishing second behind Bobby Ray Parks in assists with 2.5 a game.

After serving his residency last year, Betayene makes his debut for the Bulldogs this season. The STI College transferee from Cameroon, saw action for the team in several pre-season tournaments, and readily showed a glimpse of what he can do defensively at the post. This foreign student-player suited up for his native country during the FIBA Africa Under-18 championship in 2008.

The 6-foot point guard was discovered in the National Basketball Developmental League (NBDL) while playing for Davao two years ago. Unfortunately, he saw limited action last year for a Bulldogs team that was crowded at the backcourt.

He played for La Salle Greenhills in high school, but decided to jump over the fence and play for Altamirano, his coach during his stint with the Philippine national youth team three years ago.

A 6-foot-1 shooting guard out of Southern City in Zamboanga, Ignacio appeared in all but two games of the Bulldogs during his sophomore year, when he ended up as the team’s fifth leading scorer (5.0 ppg, including a season-high 16 pts.). His steady showing was a follow-up to a splendid rookie season, where he surprisingly did well, notwithstanding a guard-heavy roster. 

Javillonar is another member of the PH Youth team that finished fourth in the FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship three years ago under Altamirano. A 6-3 forward who suited up for Rizal Technological University in high school, he averaged 5.8 ppg and 5.1 rpg in 12 games with the Bulldogs last year.

A seasoned veteran, Khobuntin may look deceiving with his 3.8 ppg average, but can score at will and explode on offense given the opportunity. The talent of the 6-foot-4 former Letran Squire is not lost among cage scouts, so much so that he earned a spot with the Boracay Rum team in the PBA D-League, playing a vital cog in the Waves’ regular rotation.

He was a highly-touted prospect during his high school year with the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, and later with the PH Youth team. The 5-foot-7 playmaker with a unique surname easily became a back-up point guard for the Bulldogs in his rookie season, when, true to his name, he averaged 11.2 minutes in nine games (2.9 ppg. and 1.2 apg).

The hard-working Cameroonian had another productive season for the Bulldogs, topping the team in rebounds (9.4) and block shots (1.6), while coming in as a second major option on offense (11.2 ppg) behind rookie sensation Bobby Ray Parks. Until Parks came along, the 6-foot-7 center was the first NU player to be named to the UAAP Mythical Team in 2010 after Edwin Asoro in 2005.  

Neypes saw limited playing time in his rookie season, averaging just 10.1 minutes in 11 games for the team, considering that only few years ago, he had a remarkable stint with the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, with whom he won a Mythical Five honors in the UAAP. Still, the horizon looks brilliant for the former PH Youth standout in his sophomore season.

The entry of this St. George High School Tennessee alumnus drastically changed the fate of the Bulldogs from whipping boys to instant contenders. A potential NCAA Division 1 recruit, the son of legendary PBA import Bobby Parks, instead, chose to play for NU, and made an immediate impact in his rookie year. He led the UAAP in scoring (20.0 ppg), submitted 30 or more points thrice (with a high of 32), and posted team-bests in assists (2.9) and steals (1.1). His impact in the stat sheets led to a Most Valuable Player award by the end of the season. Parks later played for the national team that won the gold in the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

He serves as one of several point guards for the Bulldogs, limiting his playing time to just six games, and a total of five points and six assists for the entire season. The senior playmaker suited up for University of Perpetual Help during his high school years.

At 6-foot-7, Rosario stands as the future of the Bulldogs’ frontcourt. He makes his NU debut this season after transferring from Technological Institute of the Philippines. He also had a stint with the Nokia Under-18 team in 2010.