Bulldogs show more bite, stun Warriors in preseason caging

Published May 19, 2010 8:08pm

Make way for the new breed of Bulldogs. National University displayed its new ferocious image to serve notice of its title hopes in the UAAP by stunning last yearâ€™s runner-up University of the East, 57-53, in the preseason tournament of the 2010 FilOil Flying V Invitational Cup at The Arena.

Games Friday (The Arena, San Juan) 11 a.m. Ateneo vs NU (Jrs) 1 p.m. La Salle-Zobel vs EAC (Jrs) 3 p.m. La Salle vs Perpetual Help (Srs) 5 p.m. Adamson vs San Sebastian (Srs)

The Bulldogs banked on their solid defense that enabled them to break the game wide open early. They established leads as high as 16 points, the last time at 46-30, at the end of the third period. "We are trying to develop into a top defensive team in the UAAP. That was our battle cry for this game," said coach Eric Gonzales, who took the reins from Manny Dandan. After losing their first three games of the tournament, the Bulldogs improved their record to 2-3 and put UE in danger of its quarterfinals bid. Jewel Ponferrada led the Bulldogs with 15 points while fellow holdovers Kokoy Hermosisima and Mervin Baloran added 12 and 11 points, apiece.

Scores: First Game Adamson 66 â€“ Nuyles 13, Camson 12, Stinett 8, Lozada 6, Colina 6, Canada 4, Galinato 4, Etrone 4, Alvarez 3, Cabrera 3, Rios 2, Manyera 1, Brondial 0, Basilio 0, Monteclaro 0, Importante 0. St. Benilde 52 â€“ Lastimosa 11, Dela Paz 11, De Guzman 8, Manalac 7, Argamino 4, Abolucion 2, Nayve 2, Amin 0, Sinco 0, Mccoy 0, Wong 0. Quarter scores: 22-5, 40-21, 58-34, 66-52. Second Game Perpetual Help 59 â€“ Danganan 16, Vidal 10, Nuilan 9, Gomez 6, Arboleda 5, Allen 4, Elopre 4, Ynion 3, Sumera 2. Letran 57 â€“ K. Alas 19, Belencion 9, Cortes 8, Espiritu 6, Almazan 5, Dysam 4, J. Alas 3, Rodil 2, Belorio 1, Ang 0. Quarter scores: 11-12, 20-22, 42-37, 59-57. Third Game NU 57 â€“ Ponferrada 15, Hermosisima 12, Baloran 11, Mbe 9, Khobuntin 4, Terso 4, Javillonar 2, Ludovice 0, Magat 0, Tungcul 0, Nlepe Nlepe 0, Singh 0. UE 53 â€“ Zamar 14, Martinez 14, Lee 9, Enguio 5, Duran 4, Reyes 4, Ayala 2, Santos 1, Acibar 0, Rosopa 0, Razon 0. Quarter scores: 16-4, 32-19, 46-30, 57-53.

UE battled back into the contest and came to within two, 55-53, on a Paul Zamar basket with still 11.9 seconds remaining. Zamar nearly completed his heroic act when he deflected an inbound pass and was able to save the ball into the hands of teammate Paul Lee. But Lee, who struggled offensively, muffed a potential go-ahead trey before NU got the rebound to seal the win. Zamar and James Martinez finished with 14 points each while Lee, hounded by the Bulldogsâ€™ defense, was held to nine markers after a 34-point explosion against Jose Rizal University the last time around. The Red Warriors finished their elimination round assignment with an even 4-4 card for fifth spot in Group B. Ahead in the said group are early quarterfinalist Jose Rizal University (6-1), San Sebastian (4-1), Adamson (4-2) and defending champion Far Eastern University. Adamson won earlier over College of Saint Benilde, 66-52, with Alex Nuyles and Eric Camson leading the way with 13 and 12 points each to hand the Blazers their fifth straight setback. Chris Elopre played the hero's role in the dying seconds as Perpetual Help squeaked past Letran, 59-57, for the Altasâ€™ first win in four tries. Elopre drew a foul from Kevin Alas with 5.1 seconds left and broke a 57-all tie with two clutch free throws. Former Altas point guard Franz Dysam had a chance to send the game into overtime but muffed a lay up try before the final horn. Letran succumbed to its third straight defeat and fell to 1-4. - JVP/RCJ, GMANews.TV

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