UAAP: ADMU vs NU preview and live-scoring

The National University Bulldogs are looking to prove that they are in fact a legit title contender in UAAP season 75. They won't get a better chance to do so than by defeating the reigning four-time champions, the Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The Bulldogs bucked uniform controversies to still annihilate the UE Red Warriors in the very first game of the season, as the host school flashed plenty of bite to go along with their bark, posting a 90-55 win. NU actually lost the first quarter to UE, 15-13, but they easily recovered and shook off some early jitters to post a dominant 35-8 second quarter that UE was never able to recover from. They made it look easy too, zooming up and down the court and posting 28 fast break points and 22 turnover points in the process. They'll have to contend though with an Ateneo squad that will no doubt be looking to bounce back from a 71-70 loss to the UST Growling Tigers, and the Eagles can run just as well as the Bulldogs can. Ateneo was up 43-28 in the first half, with a 16-2 advantage in fast break points before foul trouble to 7'0" center Greg Slaughter and a tricky zone defense slowed them down. Turnovers will likely be the key to this game. The normally sure-handed Blue Eagles turned the ball over 18 times to UST, which led to 21 turnover points. If NU can force that sort of mental mistakes, then expect the host team to pull off the upset. But if Ateneo denies the Bulldogs easy points, Bobby Ray Parks and the rest of his team might have to settle for the half-court game, where their execution will be tested. - AMD, GMA News Projected ADMU starting line-up: Juami Tiongson (8 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals vs UST), Kiefer Ravena, Nico Salva, Greg Slaughter, Oping Sumalinog Projected NU starting line-up: Bobby Ray Parks (16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks vs UE), Jeoffrey Javillonar, Gelo Alolino, Dennice Villamor, Emmanuel Mbe