Warriors take bite out of Bulldogs

MANILA, Philippines - Rudy Lingganay showed that he can be counted on when the game is on the line, leading University of the East Red Warriors to a 73-59 win over NU on Sunday in the UAAP seniors basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. Lingganay scored six of his 12 points in the last quarter to help the Warriors withstand the rally ignited by the Bulldogs that erased a 61-47 Warriors lead at the start of the fourth quarter to just eight, 63-55. While Lingganay ensured the Warriors' triumph and their immediate comeback following a disheartening 72-57 defeat to defending champion Ateneo, veteran center Narciso Llagas and playmaker Paul Lee were instrumental in the Warriors’ exceptional performance in the second and third canto. Llagas scored nine of his team-high 16 points in the third period to anchor the Warriors’ breakaway while Lee scored 13 of his 14 points in the second and third stanzas to hugely contribute to the Warriors’ cause of winning their second assignment in three matches. "To just bounce back after that disheartening defeat against Ateneo is a big boost to our morale," said Warriors mentor Lawrence Chongson. "We learned from that defeat to Ateneo, that we were doing a good performance in our defense but we need to hone our offense," Chongson added. "And that is what we did today," Chongson noted. The Warriors were actually down by three points after the first canto, but once their offense started to wax hot, the Bulldogs were unable to contain the onslaught by UE's veterans. Chongson also said that their inability to protect their early lead against the Eagles was a big eye-opener. "We did a very bad job in protecting our lead in the first half against Ateneo," said Chongson. "But against the Bulldogs, the boys were just superb in protecting our advantage." And protect their lead the Warriors did. "I told the boys to just focus," said Chongson after the Bulldogs won the first quarter. "And after we recovered, I told them not to be afraid of losing the lead but to just play and maintain the advantage." The Bulldogs absorbed their second defeat after a rousing performance in their opening match that saw them demolishing the Maroons. - Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV