UE, Adamson, State U out of contention with NU win
One win meant the exit of three teams.
Fighting another fourth quarter scare, the National University (NU) Bulldogs manageably defeated the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 83-74, to eliminate the three cellar-dwelling teams in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament in today’s doubleheader at the Mall of Asia Arena..
Playing without Emmanuel Mbe, who was still recuperating from a hip bruise after their overtime loss against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigers, the Bulldogs relied heavily on African center Henri Betayene on the post to avert a UE upset.
He led the season’s host with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks while reigning most valuable player Bobby Ray Parks shot a game-high 21 points.
Mbe’s absence though was felt by the Bulldogs as the Warriors scored heavily from inside, courtesy of an excellent inside game by center Chris Javier and dribble drives by UE scoring leader Roi Sumang. Javier led the Warriors with 19 points.
Down by only three at the three-minute mark, the Bulldogs were ultimately bailed out by key three-point shots by Jeoffrey Javillonar and Gelo Alolino.
With the win, the Bulldogs inch closer by half a game to the De La Salle Green Archers, who will battle archrival Ateneo Blue Eagles on Saturday. Moreover, the win ultimately eliminated the Warriors, the Adamson Soaring Falcons, and the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
In the second game, the Falcons dominated the shaded lane and triumphed over the Fighting Maroons, 75-70.
Eric Camson chalked his seventh season double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds to pace the eliminated Falcon squad while Jericho Cruz added 17 points, and Rodney Brondial, who returned from a one-game suspension, contributed 13 points and a dominating 11 offensive rebounds.
Both UE and UP are tied at last place with a 1-8 record while the Falcons, last season’s second runner-up, is at 2-9.
In other UAAP developments, commissioner Ato Badolato issued a one-game suspension against Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Arvie Bringas and Blue Eagle center JP Erram as a result of yesterday’s infractions during the FEU-Ateneo game.
Bringas was thrown out in the game as he was caught spitting at the Ateneo bench at the end of the third quarter. Erram, meanwhile, was sanctioned by Badolato after the commissioner caught him kicking an Ateneo player in a review of the game tape.
