RELATED STORIES: UE-NU Game Photos | Red Warriors break through win column, Falcons down Green Archers

Paul Zamar of UE aims to make a move against two NU defenders. (Justin de Jesus/FCF)

Games Sunday (August 7, 2011)
Araneta Coliseum
1:00pm – Santo Tomas vs. State U
3:00pm – Far Eastern vs. Ateneo

GAME SUMMARY

FINAL
(1 – 6)		(2 – 5)
72 – 71
QUARTERS 1 2 3 4 EAST 18 23 13 18 NATIONAL 26 15 13 17
STATISTICAL LEADERS POINTS UE Zamar 20 NU Parks 23 REBOUNDS UE Enguio 6 NU Mbe 11 ASSISTS UE Sumang 6 NU Labing-isa 4
KEY STATS UE NU FIELD GOALS (PCT) 31/70 (44%) 23/56 (41%) REBOUNDS (OFF) 37 (14) 37 (11) 2nd CHANCE PTS. 9 4

In what is seen as one of the biggest upsets of the 74th season of the UAAP, University of the East finally walked away with their first victory over the NU Bulldogs, 72-71 on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Grabe naiyak ako,” said Jerry Codiñera who finally nabbed his first victory as head coach of the Red Warriors in the tournament.

Top scorer Paul Zamar said “First win ko to sa Season 74 ng UAAP.” He also expressed his gratitude towards his teammates. “It’s not an individual effort… Nagpapasalamat ako sa [mga teammates ko].”

Zamar led the scoring for UE with 20 points. Biboy Enguio and Shej Sumang put up 19 and 10 respectively.

Bobby Ray Parks put up 23 points for NU while Choi Ignacio contributed 16. Emmanuel Mbe had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Despite a seemingly strong start from the Warriors, NU was in-control of the game in first quarter, which ended at 26-18 in their favor. Parks proved to be force to be reckoned with scoring 11 points in this quarter.

The game was so close that both teams were tied at the end of the second and third quarters, 41-41 and 54-54 and respectively.

NU sought to increase their lead and managed to pull away by as much as 10 points five minutes into the fourth quarter. However due to consistent scoring by Enguio and JM Noble, UE was able to catch up with 1:22 left. Back-to-back baskets by Enguio and Adrian Santos managed to cut the lead down to 1 at 70-71.

Thanks to an assist by Sumang, Santos made the crucial basket that put UE ahead, 72-71.

Parks managed to draw a foul from Enguio, his fifth of the game, to glue himself to the bench for the rest of the contest. The prized rookie however, missed both freethrows, denying the Bulldogs a chance to lead. A minor scuffle occurred and a jump ball was called in the dying seconds of the game.

Recalling the incident, Codinera said “If it’s really for us, babagsak samin yan.”

UE managed to tap the ball away from NU, and the rest is history.

Despite the win, UE remains at the bottom of the pack with a 1-6 record. NU is in 7th place at 2-4 to end the first round.

BOX SCORES
EAST (72): Zamar 20, Enguio 19, Sumang 10, Noble 9, Javier 4, Santos 4, Sumido 2, Flores 2, Duran 2, Tagarda 0
NATIONAL (71): Parks 23, Ignacio 16, Mbe 13, Labing-isa 7, Celiz 6, Alolino 2, Khobuntin 2, Singh 2, Villamor 0, Neypes 0, Terso 0
Quarters: 18-26, 41-41, 54-54, 72-71