FilOil: NU stays unbeaten, blows out Perpetual Help

(Updated 2:32pm) The National University Bulldogs extended their winning streak to five, pummeling the University of Perpetual Help System-Dalta Altas, 94-65, in their FilOil Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup elimination round on Friday at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

The Bulldogs led by as much as 39 points today and are undefeated thus far in Group A play, while Perpetual Help is winless in three games.

"Although we had a lot of turnovers this game, we're very happy for the boys for playing good defense in this game," said Bulldogs coach Eric Altamirano.

"Sobrang ganda kasi ng simula namin kasi nagsimula kami sa defense namin. Sabi ni coach na magfocus kami sa defense, tapos yung offense darating din," said reserve guard Mark De Guzman.

"Nandoon yung confidence namin kasi 4-0 nga kami, pero learning process din ito. Hindi pwedeng i-underestimate ang kalaban," finished former RP-Youth baller JJ Alejandro.

Ray Ray Parks led all scorers with 19 points and six assists, including hitting 5-of-6 three-pointers, in only 20 minutes of play. Alfred Aroga tallied 13 points and eight rebounds, while Denice Villamor had 10 points and six boards. De Guzman and Roño tallied nine points each and combined for eight rebounds and seven assists.

National U was white-hot to start the game as they made their first five field goals, including triples by Jeoff Javillonar and Denice Villamor, to impose a 12-2 lead. The Altas called a timeout just two minutes into the game, but save for a couple of shots at the rim by Nosa Omorogbe and Justine Alano, they were kept out of the paint by the Bulldogs.

Meanwhile the Bulldogs put on a clinic on their end of the floor, moving the ball from side-to-side to find the open man. Their efforts allowed Ray Ray Parks to sink four triples with ease, combining with Villamor and Alfred Aroga for a 24-14 run. After the first period, National U held a 36-16 advantage.

In the second quarter, the Altas tried to make headway against the Bulldogs bench by relying on Omorogbe to create on the fly. But they couldn't take advantage of National U's turnovers in transition, and each Bulldog reserve chipped in for an 11-4 run, capped by a Kyle Neypes triple, 47-20.

Perpetual Help got their second field goal of the period with three minutes to play, a fast break bucket by Gerald Dizon, as they went on a 6-2 spurt that forced the Bulldogs to preemptively call a timeout. Parks and Aroga checked back in and made a bucket each, guiding their team to a 58-28 tally at the half.


Juneric Baloria and Chris Elopre made three-pointers to give the Altas some outside help after the half. But it wasn't enough as the go-go Bulldogs found ways to attack them in transition as Robin Rono and Javillonar converted at the rim. Even the benchwarmers chipped in, as Tristan Perez beat the quarter buzzer to post their largest lead of the game, 81-42.

The Altas earned a moral victory as three three-pointers by Dizon highlighted a 16-5 run to start the final period. The Bulldogs, who were outscored 23-13 in the final frame, didn't seem to be actively chasing the century mark. They played out the quarter without their starters on the floor, maintaining at least a 27-point margin the rest of the way

The Bulldogs finished the game with a 36-of-58 clip from the field (62 percent) including 12-of-24 three-pointers. In contrast, Perpetual Help was 21-of-73 (29 percent) and 3-of-30 from long range (27 percent).

National U also dominated the stats sheet in rebounds (45-34), assists (22-7) and fast break points (13-5). However they tallied an 11-22 loss in turnovers, which allowed the Altas to take a 16-11 lead in turnover points.

Juneric Balora scored 14 points in the second half to lead his team with 18 markers. Gerald Dizon was 4-of-5 on threes to finish with 16 points, while Nosa Omorogbe added 13 points and five rebounds. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

NU 94: Parks 19, Aroga 13, Villamor 10, Rono 9, De Guzman 9, Javillonar 8, Labing-isa 7, Rosario 4, Perez 4, Javelona 4, Neypes 3, Khobuntin 2, Alejandro 2, Porter 0

UPHSD 65: Baloria 18, Dizon 16, Omorogbe 13, Allano 7, Elopre 5, Arboleda 4, Sadiwa 2, Jolangcob 0, Ylagan 0, Bantayan 0, Lucente 0, Bitoy 0, Oliviera 0, Pupos 0

Quarter scoring: 36-16, 58-28, 81-42, 94-65