FilOil: NU returns to Finals with beatdown of San Beda

The National University Bulldogs are returning to the FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup Finals for the second year in a row after out-dueling the San Beda College Red Lions, 74-57, on Friday at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

The Bulldogs, led by Denice Villamor, prevailed despite a quiet performance from back-to-back UAAP MVP Ray Ray Parks. National U built its lead on offensive rebounding and alert defense, eventually withstanding a late charge by Baser Amer and a gassed Red Lions five in the fourth quarter.

The Red Lions were held to a 9-of-28 (32 percent) shooting clip in the second half while the Bulldogs made 14-of-32 from the field (44 percent).

NU kept a clean slate in the FilOil Cup for the second year in a row and holds a 21-game winning streak dating back to the start of last year's tournament.

Villamor bannered his team with 18 points and six rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting. Gelo Alolino added 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Parks chipped in 12 points and four boards, while Emmanuel Mbe notched 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Eric Altamirano, National U's head coach, commended the way Villamor stepped up to the moment. "Ito yung bago naming Bobby Ray," he joked as his forward entered the press room and praised his performance, especially on the defensive end.

"We were really disciplined and focused on our defense and that was the key for us today. We forced them into a low field goal percentage and controlled the rebounds and fast breaks," said Altamirano.

"We're very excited that we're able to get back to the finals, but we don't want to forget that this is still the preseason. We're using this to improve every aspect of this team."

As a result of the win, NU moves on to face the UE Red Warriors, who withstood the UST Growling Tigers, 77-75.

Altamirano said he respects the Warriors and that his team will need to prepare well for the Finals on Wednesday. "I think UE is a veteran team, an experienced team. I think they have the materials to contend in the upcoming UAAP.

"They're a team to reckon with," he noted.

The pace was high to start the game as Parks' high percentage looks offset makes by Art Dela Cruz. Parks though had more help from Emmanuel Mbe and Denice Villamor, as the latter's triple created a 15-10 gap.

Both teams tried to score inside in the last two minutes as Ola Adeogun's and-one and charities by David Semerad knotted the game in the last 20 seconds. Mark De Guzman zipped up-court for a floater to step ahead by five, but Baser Amer beat the buzzer with a turnaround shot from the left wing, and San Beda trailed 20-17 after the first period.

In the second quarter, National U moved the ball around the perimeter for three-point attempts. JJ Alejandro buried one, but was offset by Amer and Francis Abarcar's penetration plays, knotting the game at 23-all.

San Beda then went to Adeogun in the paint to take a two-point lead, but Parks countered on the break for the Bulldogs, to start a heated rally. The Red Lions emerged on top, however, after another bucket and split charities by Amer, 32-30, after taking a knee from Mbe with three minutes to play.

However the Bulldogs shook them off just as quickly when Villamor buried a triple, scoring five points in a 7-2 run. A late rotation allowed Dan Sara to find Kyle Pascual for an easy backdoor lay-up, cutting the NU lead to one with 24 ticks remaining in the half, but Parks slammed the door on the Red Lions at halftime, as he beat the clock with a floater for a 39-36 spread.

The Bulldogs and the Red Lions shot well from the field in the first half, making 17-of-35 (49 percent) and 15-of-36 (42 percent), respectively. National U connected on four of their eight tries from three-point territory, while San Beda blanked on all five of their attempts.

Both sides also committed just six turnovers each, but the Bulldogs made the most of the situation with a 10-4 margin in turnover points.


The third quarter was a low-scoring affair but the Red Lions were vulnerable inside after the break, as Villamor and Alolino scored on put-backs, while the latter also racked up an and-one to push the lead to eight, 46-38.

After being limited to perimeter attempts, the Red Lions got their second basket of the quarter from Adeogun on the block with under three minutes to play. But the Bulldogs continued to take advantage of them inside, as Parks and Troy Rosario managed to score on lay-ups. Rome Dela Rosa finally got his first points of the game on a drive in the final minute, but San Beda was forced to foul Parks on their final possession. The UAAP MVP split, as National U led, 51-42, after three quarters.

The Red Lions found a flow on offense when they ran pick-and-roll sets to open the fourth period, and Amer scored seven of their first nine points. On the other end the Bulldogs persisted on the offensive glass, leading to put-backs by Alfred Aroga and Jeoff Javillonar. Alejandro and Alolino also provided help from the outside, hitting timely shots to pad a 64-49 lead with under four and a half minutes to play.

With little else going for their opponents, Alolino was intentionally fouled with just over two minutes remaining and made two freebies, 66-54. Amer and Mbe exchanged split charities before Parks drove in the paint for a lay-up, 71-55, with under a minute and a half left, sealing the deal for NU.

The Bulldogs finished the game shooting 31-of-68 (46 percent) against San Beda's 24-of-64 mark (38 percent). They also controlled the glass, 43-37, including 12-9 on the offensive end, to produce a 14-2 spread in second-chance points. National U also led in turnover points, 14-6.

San Beda missed all of their 12 three-pointers in the game. In contrast the Bulldogs made 5-of-13, including Villamor and Alolino combining for 4-of-7.

Baser Amer led all scorers with 19 points, four rebounds and four assists. Art Dela Cruz and Ola Adeogun were limited to just four and three markers, respectively, in the second half. Dela Cruz finished with 16 points and 10 boards, while Adeogun had 10 points and five rebounds. Rome Dela Rosa had just four points and four rebounds on 2-of-7 shooting.

San Beda will now play UST in the battle for third-place. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

NU 74: Villamor 18, Alolino 15, Park 12, Mbe 11, Aroga 7, Alejandro 5, Javillonar 2, Rosario 2, De Guzman 2, Rono 0

SBC 57: Amer 19, Dela Cruz 16, Adeogun 10, Dela Rosa 4, A Semerad 4, Pascual 2, Abarcar 2, Koga 0, D Semerad 0, Sara 0, Villaruz 0, Bonsubre 0


Quarter scoring: 17-20, 36-39, 42-51, 74-57