The NU Bulldogs, Lady Bulldogs, Bullpups and Lady Bullpups are the collegiate men's and women's, and high school men's and women's, respectively, varsity teams of National University (NU) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The athletic director is Rustico “Otie” Camangian.
Team identity
Team monikers Since the UAAP began in 1938, NU's mascot has been 'Butch' the Bulldog.
National University is one of the eight UAAP member schools that participate in different sporting events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Bulldog is the mascot of all the varsity teams participating in these sporting events. The official varsity team names sourced from the school's official student publications are as follows: NU Team MonikersSport Men's TeamWomen's TeamBoys' TeamGirls' TeamBoys U16 3x3 Basketball NU Bulldogs NU Lady Bulldogs NU Bullpups NU Lady Bullpups NU Bullpups Basketball NU Bulldogs NU Lady Bulldogs NU Bullpups NU Lady Bullpups NU Bullpups Volleyball /Beach Volleyball NU Bulldogs NU Lady Bulldogs NU Bullpups NU Lady Bullpups Football NU Booters NU Lady Booters NU Booters Baseball NU Batters NU Junior Batters Softball NU Softbelles Judo No team No team No team No team Taekwondo/Poomsae NU Jins NU Lady Jins NU Junior Jins Fencing NU Fencers No team No team No team Swimming NU Otters NU Lady Otters Junior NU Otters Junior Lady NU Otters Track and FieldNU Tracksters Badminton NU Shuttlers NU Lady Shuttlers Tennis NU Tennisters NU Lady Tennisters Table Tennis NU Paddlers NU Lady Paddlers NU Paddlers NU Paddlers Chess NU Woodpushers NU Lady Woodpushers NU Junior Woodpushers NU Junior Lady Woodpushers EsportsNU Bulldogs CheerleadingNU Pep SquadNU-Nazareth School Pep Squad StreetdanceNU Dance CompanyNU Underdawgz
Team sports Basketball
Men's In the early years of the UAAP, the NU Bulldogs were a competitive team in the league, winning a title in 1954. However, by the 1980s, NU was perennially in the bottom ranking of the team standings. In the late 1990s, they improved their ranking by moving up to the middle of the team standings with now PBA stars Danny Ildefonso and Lordy Tugade in their team roster, but still failed to make it to the Final Four.
In 2001, the Bulldogs made a surprise trip to the Final Four. They were led by Jeff Napa who tied the record of UE's Allan Caidic for the most number of three-points made in a single UAAP game. However, they were not able to advance to the Finals as they were beaten by the La Salle Green Archers in their Final Four series.
After season 64 (2001–02), the NU Bulldogs returned to their mediocre performance despite having outstanding players such as Rey Mendoza, Edwin Asoro, both members of the Mythical Five in separate seasons and Jonathan Fernandez, who found some success playing for the PBL's Harbour Centre squad and the SEABA RP team.
In the last quarter of year 2008, the family of Henry Sy of SM Prime Holdings acquired majority ownership of the National University. Aside from improving school facilities, the new management has included in their corporate plan the improvement of NU's sports programs. After ten years, the National U Bulldogs made it again to the UAAP Final Four in 2012.
In the 77th season of the league, the NU Bulldogs won the tournament title.. At the start of the season, they were at the top of the standings above ADMU and DLSU (teams that are expected to come out strong in the season). But in the 2nd round of the tournament, the Bulldogs fell on the 4th spot tied with UE Red Warriors. They faced UE on a Knockout Game for the 4th seed, which they won 51–49. They have beaten the 1st seeded team in the league which is the ADMU Blue Eagles in 2 Do-or-Die games, making them the 2nd 'Number 4' team in the UAAP History to defeat the Number 1 team. After 44 years, NU made it again to the UAAP Finals. They faced the FEU Tamaraws in three games. After 60 long years of title drought, the National U Bulldogs clinched the title after winning against FEU, 75–59, in a Do-or-Die Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with a Record-Breaking Crowd of 25, 138 (biggest crowd ever to watch a basketball game at the venue, considering the game was held on a Wednesday).
Women's
The Lady Bulldogs have won six straight championships, including a winning streak of 100 straight games. cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/114/the-nu-lady-bulldogs-and-the-greatest-winning-streak-in-philippine-basketball/
Junior The NU Bulldogs have become a strong team in the league. They are expected to be a prospective contender in the upcoming seasons of the UAAP. The NU Bullpups have won four UAAP championships in four years. They won the UAAP championships in Season 74, 76, 78, 81.
NU Bulldogs Basketball team Awards and other achievements Season Conference Placement Reference2007Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup 4th Place (Men's Seniors)2010Father Martin Cup Division 2 Champions (Men's Seniors) 2011Father Martin Cup Summer Champions (Men's Seniors') 2012Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Champions (Men's Seniors)2013Father Martin Cup Summer Champions (Men's Seniors)2013Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Runners up (Men's Seniors)2015Father Martin Cup Summer Champions (Juniors')2016Father Martin Cup Summer Champions (Juniors')2016Father Martin Cup Division 2 Runners up (Juniors')2016Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup 4th Place (Men's Seniors)2017Father Martin Cup Division 2 Champions (Juniors')2018–19Father Martin Cup Open Champions (Men's Seniors)2022Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Champions (Men's Seniors)
Volleyball
The National University Bulldogs Spikers won their first UAAP volleyball title in season 75 (2012–2013), while the NU Lady Bulldogs Spikers won their first in season 16 (1953–54). As of UAAP Season 77 the NU Bulldogs have won 2 UAAP volleyball titles while the NU Lady Bulldogs have 3 UAAP championships (Season 16 (1953–54), Season 19 (1956–57) and Season 84 (2021–22)).
NU Bulldogs Volleyball teams Awards and other achievements Season Conference Placement Reference2010V-League 7th Season 2nd Conference 6th Place (Women's)2011V-League 8th Season 2nd Conference 4th Place (Women's)2014Shakey's V-League 11th Season 1st Conference Runners-up (Women's)2015Shakey's V-League 12th Season Collegiate ConferenceChampions (Women's) 2016Shakey's V-League 13th Season Open Conference 5th Place (Women's)2016Shakey's V-League 13th Season Collegiate ConferenceChampions (Women's)2017Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate ConferenceChampions (Women's) 4th Place (Mens)2018Premier Volleyball League 2nd Season Collegiate Conference did not compete (Women's)Champions (Women's)20182018 ASEAN University GamesChampions (Team Philippines Men's) 20222022 ASEAN University Games Runners-up (Team Philippines Men's)20222022 Datuk Bandar Cup Win Streak Volleyball Invitational Championship Malaysia 4th Place (Team Philippines Men's)20222022 Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-Season ChampionshipChampions (Women's)20222022 V-League Collegiate ChallengeChampions (Men's)
Rotation NU Lady Bulldogs (UAAP Season 84)
Beach volleyball The school has men's and women's beach volleyball teams. The National University (NU) Bulldogs in Beach Volleyball have madhave competed in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The team has been competitive and has consistently performed well in the league's beach volleyball tournament, which is one of the premier collegiate beach volleyball events in the country. The NU Beach Volleyball Team (both men's and women's) has gained attention for their consistent performances, particularly in the men's division. While they have not always been champions, they have been known for their strong competitive spirit and have produced notable results in recent UAAP seasons. While National University's Beach Volleyball Bulldogs have faced some challenges in clinching championships, their contributions to the sport and consistent performance have made them a force to be reckoned with in the UAAP's beach volleyball scene. With a focus on player development and strong team dynamics, The segment concludes with a focus on player development and team dynamics.
Baseball The Bulldogs have found recent success in the UAAP baseball tournament. After years in the bottom of the team standings, NU has made it four consecutive times to the Final 4, from season 72 (2009–10 ) to season 75 (2012–13). In season 74 (2011–12) they not only made it to the Finals but also won the championship, their third since 1965. Again they repeated their Finals appearance the following year, season 75 (2012–13). This time however, they were not as fortunate. They finished runner-up to Ateneo.
Football The first Lady Bulldogs football team in 2025. The team coached by Ryan Payson, had tryouts in August 2025. The women's football team took part in Ang Liga by early 2026.
The NU Lady Bulldogs made their debut in the women's football championship of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) in Season 89. They lost 0-5 to the FEU Lady Tamaraw Booters on their first ever UAAP game on September 23, 2026.
Softball
The National University Softball Team won the inaugural UAAP softball championship during the 1953–1954 season, the very year the sport was introduced to the league. Following their first title, NU successfully defended their title in the 1954–1955 season, securing back-to-back championships. These early victories established National University as a pioneering force in collegiate softball, laying the foundation for the sport's growth in the UAAP and cementing the Bulldogs' legacy in Philippine collegiate athletics.
Performance sports Cheerdance
The National U Pep Squad performs at the halftime of the basketball games of the NU Bulldogs in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and represents the university in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition along with the NU Cheer Squadron and NU Drummers. They were the champions for four consecutive years (2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016). Their closest rival is the UP Pep Squad and UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, which has been a consistent runner-up for the past three seasons. Ghicka Bernabe, a former member of FEU Cheering Squad, is the current head coach of the group.
NU Pep Squad Awards and other achievements Year Event Placement 2002 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 8th Place 2003 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 8th Place 2004 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 8th Place 2005 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 8th Place 2006 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 7th Place 2007 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 8th Place 2008 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 8th Place 2009 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 5th Place 2010 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 7th Place 2011 UAAP Cheerdance Competition 6th Place 2012 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Third Place 2013 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champions 2013 National Cheerleading Championship Champions 2014 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champions 2014 National Cheerleading Championship Third Place 2015 National Cheerleading Championship Champions 2015 ICU World Cheerleading Championship (Orlando, Florida) Third Place(Team Pilipinas – Co-Ed Elite) 2015 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champions 2016 National Cheerleading Championship Champions 2016 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champions 2017 National Cheerleading Championship Champions 2017 UAAP Cheerdance Competition4th Place 2018 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champions 2019 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champions 2020 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Cancelled 2021 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Third Place 2022 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champions 2023 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Second Place 2024 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champions 2025 UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champions Notes: - The NU Pep Squad and the FEU Cheering Squad finished the competition tied in the fourth place.
Group stunts division