FilOil: Parks, Rosario take charge as Bulldogs beat Heavy Bombers

The National University Bulldogs continued to keep their record pristine with a hard-fought victory over the rebuilding JRU Heavy Bombers, 71-60 on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan, as part of the ongoing FilOil Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup.

Four players, Bobby Ray Parks, Troy Rosario, Alfred Aroga, and Jayjay Alejandro, scored in double-digits for the Bulldogs, who outlasted the young Heavy Bombers.

The Bulldogs capitalized on their second-chance points, making 13 points off 12 offensive rebounds, while shooting 41 percent overall from the field. They used a decisive 12-0 scoring rush in the third quarter to distance themselves from the resilient Heavy Bombers.

Parks led all scorers with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, while forward Rosario, scored 15 of his own, with a 7-of-9 clip from the free throw line. Aroga and Alejandro, both newcomers, added 12 points apiece.

The Bulldogs are now tied with the Chiefs at the top of the standings with unblemished records at 3-0, while the Bombers drop to 0-2.

Jose Rizal U. matched up surprisingly well against the Bulldogs in the first, keeping the clamps on Parks. With the reigning MVP in check, NU had no set scorers, drawing blood from both the starting five and the bench.

JRU benched point guard Paolo Pontejos early in the first quarter, and went with a line-up of Philip Paniamogan, Gio Lasquety, Philip Mabulac, Brandon Porter, and Nick Abanto, a quintet that ably matched-up with the athletic Bulldogs. Paniamogan fired in five quick points for the Bombers, as he and his teammates scored on nifty plays from under the basket to finish the first quarter at 16-15, leading over NU.

The Bulldogs bit harder in the second quarter, making six quick points in under a minute courtesy of an Alejandro triple and an and-one basket from center Troy Rosario. The offense slowly found its way as Parks and reserve big man Kyle Neypes scored six points for NU, until former San BedA Red Lion Pontejos stole momentum from the Bulldogs, draining two consecutive triples, one of them with a foul called. Paolo Javelona, the defender in charge of guarding Pontejos, was subsequently benched.

The Heavy Bombers momentarily held the lead at 28-27, until the Bulldogs gnawed their way back in front, getting seven straight points from four different players to end the second quarter at 36-32.

The Bulldogs shot only 2-of-10 from long distance, but connected on 42 percent of their field goals overall, in contrast to the Heavy Bombers’ 34 percent clip. The Bulldogs also out-rebounded their counterparts 23-19 at the half.

NU capitalized on turnover points, normally a Heavy Bombers tactic, converting 10 from seven JRU miscues.

Three-point shooting kept the Heavy Bombers in the game, as the NCAA squad made a third of their 15 tries, with Pontejos and Paniamogan contributing a pair each. Overall however, the Bombers only shot 34 percent, making 13 of their 38 shots. JRU also had a hard time getting to the line, managing only one free throw.

Parks and starting center Alfred Aroga led all NU scorers at the half with eight points apiece. Parks already had six rebounds and four assists after two quarters.

Top dog Parks drew first blood within the first minute of the third quarter, but coach Vergel Meneses’ airtight defense got the best of NU in the first five minutes of the third canto, at least. The Heavy Bombers subsequently held the Bulldogs scoreless until the 4:41 mark, catching up and getting even at 39-all.

The scoring drought ended for NU, as the Bulldogs made it rain, going on a 12-0 run to regain the lead. Free throws by Rosario capped the blitz at 51-39. The tables had definitely turned, as the Bombers were unable to score until the 1:47 mark, when Pontejos notched five straight points to keep them within striking distance. Free throws however by Alejandro gave NU a nine-point lead heading into the last ten minutes, 53-44.

JRU made a last attempt to chip away at the lead, and the effort paid off as the Bombers went on a 10-2 run early in the fourth. The Heavy Bombers got within striking distance, 62-56, after a lay-up by Lasquety, but in response, NU coach Eric Altamirano quickly subbed Aroga back in for safety. The move paid off, as the center brought them back up to an eight-point lead, 64-56.

Coach Meneses again called for time, and guard Cris Dela Paz responded to the call, making a defensive effort to stop Parks. Dela Paz followed that up with a noble attempt at the hoop, which resulted in a pair of free throws, 66-60.

JRU ran out of juice however towards the last stretch, failing to make any of their open jumpers. Dela Paz missed his last two attempts at the stripe, and a triple by Alejandro iced the game for the Bulldogs, 71-60.

The Bulldogs edged the NCAA champions San Beda in their first game 73-71, and continued their winning ways via a last-second triumph against CSB, 70-67.

The Bombers had a hard time making their shots as the longer, more athletic Bulldogs constantly kept them in check. The team shot only 34 percent from the field, while drawing only 11 shots from the foul line. They were severely beaten down in the rebounding department, out-rebounded 46-35, and consequently managed only four second-chance points.

Pontejos led the way for JRU, scoring with 15 points, the only one to score in double figures.

Bobby Ray Parks, through three games, is now averaging 17.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists. Notable as well is Alfred Aroga, their Cameroonian center pegged to fill in Emmanuel  Mbe’s shoes if the latter is found to be ineligible for the coming season. The highly-mobile big man is norming 13 points in three outings, while showing the ability to handle the ball better than most big men.

JRU is still for its first win, following a double-digit loss to the Red Lions, 67-55. After losing Nate Matute, Alex Almario, John Lopez, and John Villarias, the Bombers are relying on former Red Lion Paolo Pontejos to carry the scoring load and the ball-handling duties for them. - RAF, GMA News


The scores:

NU – Parks 15, Rosario 15, Aroga 12, Alejandro 12, Villamor 8, Neypes 6, Rono 3, Javillonar 0, Khobuntin 0, Labing-Isa 0, De Guzman 0, Javelona 0

JRU – Pontejos 15, Balagtas 9, Ddela Paz 8, Paniamogan 8, Lasquety 7, Mabulac 6, Salaveria 4, Sanchez 3, Abanto 0, Medrano 0, Diego 0, Porter 0

Quarter scoring: 15-16, 36-32, 53-44, 71-60