UAAP: NU Bulldogs maul hapless UP Fighting Maroons

Bobby Ray Parks got an offensive support from Emmanuel Mbe as National University trounced University of the Philippines, 65-43, Sunday in the 74th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum. Parks had 22 points—nine points lower than his 31-point output in their loss to Adamson last Thursday—but Mbe helped Parks offensively as he had 17 points to go along with his 13 rebounds in the game. “We had a good offensive game unlike in our game against Adamson. Every time Bobby Ray and Sean (Mbe) play well, we win. We just have to hold opponents to less than 60 points, we have a better chance of winning," said NU coach Eric Altamirano. Defend the Bulldogs did as NU held UP to 13 points in the first half—the second lowest halftime score since statistics were computerized in league in 2003—en route to its fourth win in 10 matches for sixth place. No one from the Fighting Maroons scored in double figures with Paolo Romero notching only seven points and Anjelo Montecastro, Francis Maniego and Mark Juruena having six markers. Jet Manuel and Mike Silungan, the leading scorers of the Fighting Maroons, only had two points each. “Our game plan was to shut down Manuel and Silungan as they are the players who make it happen for them," Altamirano said. But the former pro and youth national team coach said that they still need to polish their game especially when they go up against the top teams in the league if they want a shot at the Final Four. “We have to be consistent with our game. We can’t be like a switch that is on and off. We have to come to the game ready to compete always," said Altamirano. Parks and Mbe combined for 11 of his 17 points in the first quarter to give the Bulldogs a 17-6 lead. Parks put a big cushion to NU’s lead scoring 11 in the third period for a 48-26 edge entering the fourth. UP is now at the bottom of the cellar with a 2-8 win-loss card. -Reuben Terrado/OMG, GMA Newsxx