UAAP: Bulldogs avert end-game meltdown against Green Archers

(Updated 6:32pm) Bobby Ray Parks' three-point shooting sealed a 63-56 victory for the National University Bulldogs, dropping the De La Salle Green Archers to end the first elimination round of the UAAP Season 76 men's basketball tournament, Sunday, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

[Review the play-by-play of this game here]

Parks' consecutive triples in the fourth quarter opened a 14-2 Bulldogs blast, giving them enough of a cushion to stave off a 12-2 rally by Arnold Van Opstal and Thomas Torres down the stretch.

After a trey by Thomas Torre with 16 seconds left, 59-56, DLSU trapped Dennice Villamor after the inbounds, but he skipped the ball over to Gelo Alolino, who was sent to the line with 10.9 seconds on the clock. Alolino cooly drained both, forcing Jeron Teng to heave a three-pointer that missed the basket entirely. With 5.6 seconds to go, the Bulldogs casually passed the ball up to Mbe, who laid it in as time expired.

Parks led all scorers with 20 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Mbe notched 12 points and six boards, while Villamor strung 10 points and 10 rebounds. Alolino also posted nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

"Tonight I was just more of myself. Coach just instilled confidence in me and told me to trust my instinct," said Parks after the game. "I'm also proud of this team for out-rebounding [DLSU]."

The Bulldogs registered a 46-42 rebounding edge, including 16-10 offensive.

After losing two games in a row, National U head coach Eric Altamirano said they called a meeting to process where they could get better. "It was all very positive," he shared. "I'm really proud of the boys today. I felt that we played intelligent basketball today. They were smart and executed very well. I saw the team play together. They were really one on defense and offense, and I attribute this win to their teamwork."

The Bulldogs rose to 4-3, sharing second place in the rankings with the UST Tigers and the UE Red Warriors. The Archers lost three of their last four games and remain at fifth (3-4), tying the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Adamson Falcons.

The Bulldogs went to Jean Mbe early on, who scored six of their first eight points around the basket. In contrast the Archers pushed the tempo, and a few botched layups aside, kept it close on a Jason Perkins jumper, 8-7.

National U gained separation midway through the quarter, forcing the Archers into rushed shots and bad passes. On the other end, Ray Ray Parks and Dennice Villamor attacked the rim for eight points in a 12-2 run, slamming the door on the Archers for a 20-9 lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, DLSU made headway against a Bulldogs five featuring reserves, quickly putting National U in the penalty. Meanwhile, Arnold Van Opstal punished the Bulldogs in the low post for six straight points, then scoring a block on Mbe that translated into a breakaway layup for Almond Vosotros. National U called timeout just four minutes into the frame after those eight unanswered points, 20-17.

However, the Archers went to the line just thrice for the rest of the period, shooting 4-of-6, as they were flustered by National U's defense. The Bulldogs then went to Parks late in the last three minutes, who scored seven of his team's last 10 points, before Villamor buried a trey with 21 seconds remaining. After a closing 10-5 run, National U led at halftime, 33-25.

The Archers shot 8-of-28 (30.8 percent) from the field, weighed down by a 1-of-10 mark from downtown. In comparison, the Bulldogs converted 14-of-37 (37.8 percent). They also held a 10-2 lead in turnover points off a 7-10 turnover advantage. To their credit, DLSU held National U to 2-0 in second chance points, despite conceding a 9-2 offensive rebound margin.


The game plodded on after the break as good interior defense kept the margin steady. But Vosotros was the lone bright spot in DLSU's offense, scattering three triples in the period. The Archers guard linked up with Perkins for a 7-0 run to get them within two, 40-38, with two minutes to play.

A Villamor triple moments later gave National U some breathing room against the Archers' zone defense, but DLSU persevered to finish the quarter strong. Norbert Torres cleaned up his own miss with 14 seconds remaining, and Jeron Teng forced a turnover and completed a layup as time expired, punctuating an 11-3 run, 43-42, after three quarters.

Parks had other plans though, as he clipped DLSU's run with back-to-back triples, scoring eight points in an opening 14-2 fourth quarter run. The Archers were stymied on offense despite getting looks within 10 feet of the basket, 57-44.

Van Opstal wouldn't let the Archers go down easily, tipping in a Thomas Torres miss with three and a half minutes to go. Van Opstal put pressure on National U inside, dropping seven points as DLSU trailed 59-53 on his and-one with 42 ticks to go.

National U called their final timeout but turned the ball over, allowing the Archers to find Thomas in transition, and he cooly drained a triple from the left corner, 59-56, with 17 seconds on the clock.

The Bulldogs led in field goal shooting, 26-of-66 (39.4 percent) against DLSU's 20-of-63 (31.7 percent). They also held a 17-9 assist margin.

DLSU led in free throw shooting, shooting 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) compared to National U's 7-of-13 (53.8 percent). They also won in turnover points, 20-12.

Arnold Van Opstal bannered the Archers with 14 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Almond Vosotros added 11 points. - CLP, GMA News


The scores:

NU 63: Parks 20, Mbe 12, Villamor 10, Alolino 9, Neypes 6, Rosario 23, Alejandro 2, Rono 0, Perez 0, Khobuntin 0, Javillonar 0, Javelona 0

DLSU 56: Van Opstal 14, Vosotros 11, Teng 9, T. Torres 7, Perkins 6, Salem 5, N. Torres 2, Revilla 2, Tampus 0, Dela Paz 0

Quarter scores: 20-9, 33-25, 43-42, 63-56