UAAP: NU Bulldogs hang on thanks to Villamor trey, sweep Ateneo Blue Eagles in elims

(Updated 6:32pm) The National University Bulldogs quashed the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles' fourth quarter comeback, 70-65, and put the defending champions on the ropes in the UAAP Season 76 men's basketball tournament, Wednesday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs tied the FEU Tamaraws at 10-4 and secured a twice-to-beat advantage. If the DLSU Green Archers win their game versus the UST Growling Tigers to force a three-way tie, the Bulldogs still come out ahead based on the quotient tiebreaker. But should DLSU lose, the Tamaraws have a higher head-to-head quotient against the Bulldogs, and take the top slot. On the other hand, the Eagles' (7-6) quest to defend their title is in peril. Their game against UST is now a must-win to force a playoff for the last spot.

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

Dennice Villamor knocked down a wide-open triple from the left corner with 22 seconds left to make it a two-possession game, 68-63. It was the game changer in a furious tit-for-tat between both teams, giving National U enough of a  cushion to survive the come-backing Eagles.

Ateneo called a timeout, and then Newsome recovered a Buenafe miss for two more charities, 68-65. With 9.6 seconds remaining, Juami Tiongson forced a jumpball against Gelo Alolino after the inbounds play. The Eagles won possession because Alolino caught the tip. However, Ateneo did not recover, as Tiongson missed a three-pointer. Bobby Ray Parks secured the rebound, was fouled by Ryan Buenafe, and finished the game at the foul line.

Villamor finished with nine points, seven of which came in the final period, and nine rebounds. Parks bannered the Bulldogs' effort with 24 points, seven rebounds. His one assist also happened to be the pass that led to Villamor's huge basket. Emmanuel Mbe tallied 17 points and 14 rebounds.

"We're very humbled with this victory. We're the first time we're in this position, so we want to thank God," said Bulldogs head coach Eric Altamirano. He said that even after a tough loss against DLSU last week, they kept their heads high. "Coming into this game we still had the opportunity for the number one slot, so we thanked God and took advantage of it."

Regardless of where they end up or who they play, Altamirano said his team is ready to take on all comers. "Hindi naman kami mapili. Lahat ng papasok diyan, magagaling," he said about the postseason.

After the opening tip, the Bulldogs found easy points inside, while Ateneo fumbled easy layups, as the latter staked a 9-2 lead. But the Eagles called timeout, then immediately stopped the bleeding with a Juami Tiongson triple.

Good penetration allowed the Eagles to whittle the lead to two, but Bobby Ray Parks had other plans. The two-time MVP splashed a pair of triples during a 7-2 run, 18-11. Ateneo though had the final say, cruising to the hoop thrice in the last minute to end the quarter down by three, 21-18.

In the second quarter, JJ Alejandro's outside touch kept the Bulldogs ahead for most of the period, 30-23. Flustered on the offensive end, Frank Golla managed a short basket, just their third in the period. Tiongson converted a floater shortly, but Parks had the final say, ending the period with a three-point play to claim a 33-29 halftime advantage.

By halftime, Parks had made 3-of-4 three-pointers to make the bulk of his 16 points.

After the break, Ateneo found opportunities to score in transition. However, the Bulldogs were able to exploit them inside, and both teams exchanged blows. Von Pessumal made charities Chris Newsome's place, after the latter appeared to hurt himself on the break, to close the gap to two, 39-37. The Bulldogs countered by looking for Mbe around the basket, as the big man hustled for six points in a 10-3 run, 49-40, with a minute and a half left.

However, momentum heading into the final canto belonged to Ateneo. A late defensive stand, coupled with a driving and-one by Pessumal, allowed the Eagles to trim the lead to four heading into the final frame, 49-45.

Ateneo's front court took charge early in the fourth quarter, as Poy Erram's jumpers complemented athletic finishes by Newsome to take a 53-52 lead, their first in the game. However, Mbe and Dennice Villamore answered as National U's own inside-out counterpunch, taking a 60-55 lead after an 8-2 run.

The Eagles though suffered through a stretch with five straight misses beneath the basket. Gelo Alolino finally secured the rebound and was fouled while pushing the ball upcourt. Alolino made both tries, 62-55, with under three minutes to play.

A Tiongson split and a Newsome and-one forced a 62-59 tally with a minute left. Mbe made two charities after getting fouled in the post, and Newsome countered with two more freebies after drawing contact.

The Bulldogs called a timeout, and during the play Robin Rono drew contact. With 42 ticks left, the guard split. Newsome capitalized, drew contact towards the rim, and made both tries, 65-63, before Villamor's big shot.

National U shot 23-of-61 (37.7 percent) from the field, while Ateneo made 23-of-67 (34.3 percent). The Bulldogs also converted 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) from beyond the arc. In contrast, the Eagles were a mere 2-of-17 (11.8 percent) from the same area.

Chris Newsome led all scorers with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Poy Erram scored 11 points and hauled in six rebounds. Juami Tiongson and Nico Elorde tallied eight points apiece.

Kiefer Ravena registered just three points on a 1-of-9 mark from the floor and 1-of-4 from the line. He also had five rebounds and three assists.

During the second quarter, Marivi Silva, mother of Ateneo Eaglets head coach Jodie Silva, suffered a hypertensive stroke. She was evacuated by arena medics and her family and was brought to Makati Medical Hospital for treatment. Later on, she was transferred to St. Luke's Hospital.  - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

NU 70: Parks 24, Mbe 17, Villamor 9, Alejandro 5, Khobuntin 4, Alolino 4, Porter 3, Javelona 3, Rono 1, Rosario 0, Javillonar 0

ADMU 65: Newsome 17, Erram 11, Tiongson 8, Elorde 8, Pessumal 7, Ravena 7, Golla 4, Ravena 3, Tolentino 0, Capacio 0

Quarter scoring: 21-18, 33-29, 49-45, 70-65