Bulldogs pull off opening-day stunner, rip Blue Eagles

National University pounced on an undermanned and listless Ateneo De Manila side to hack out a huge 64-54 win at the MOA Arena to start its UAAP Season 76 campaign on a winning note.

The Bulldogs took advantage of the absence of Kiefer Ravena, who valiantly tried to play through an ankle sprain but struggled for only two points in eight minutes of action in the first half, to erect a 58-35 lead late in the fourth period before Juami Tiongson and Nico Elorde led a last-minute but ultimately futile run that trimmed the deficit to a more respectable margin.

It was the first win by the Bulldogs over the Blue Eagles since a 96-88 overtime win on September 15, 2007.

Tagged as this season’s team to beat, National U played true to its form, employing a suffocating defensive blanket throughout coupled with a sustained rebounding domination to spoil the debut of new Ateneo coach Bo Perasol.

Reigning two-time league MVP Ray Parks immediately set the offensive tone for the Bulldogs by firing away 10 of his game-high 22 points in the opening quarter while Cameroon center Sean Mbe proved too hot to handle in the paint, scattering 15 of the team’s 52 rebounds on top of 14 markers.

The Blue Eagles, led by Tiongson’s 13 points, also shot an nightmarish 20-of-72 (27.8 percent) from the field, fully underscoring the Bulldogs’ unforgiving defense.

ALSO READ: Ravena sprains ankle, will miss today's game; or will he?

The Katipunan-based squad, still reeling from the loss of five vital cogs including towering center Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva, got off to a very slow start and scrambled for a late-game fightback, only to be quelled by Parks in style.

With the win, the Bulldogs joined fellow opening match winners Adamson, Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas at the top of the eight-team field.
 
The Main Man: Where Ray Parks goes, the Bulldogs follow.

Aware that his counterpart Ravena wasn't100 percent, the 6-foot-3 Parks quickly seized the chance by racking up 10 quick points in the opening canto.

Although he slowed down in the fourth, Parks came up big anew by nailing a huge off-balanced triple that virtually iced the game for NU.
 
Honorable Mention: With his fellow Cameroon Alfred Aroga left in the freezer due to incomplete eligibility documents, Sean Mbe proved he’s still the man for the Bulldogs, notably down the block.

After going scoreless in the opening canto, the former member of the league’s Mythical Team gradually picked up his offensive rhythm in the next three quarters while continuing to clog the lane for any Blue Eagles’ offensive thurst.
 
Game Turning Point:
Giving Ateneo a dose of its own medicine on the defensive end, NU got on a big roll early behind Parks and completely took full control in the third canto, coming up with 17 points while holding down the Blue Eagles to another 11-point quarter output for a considerable 50-29 cushion.

Not yet done, the Bulldogs even enjoyed their biggest lead at 59-35 off a Dennice Villamor triple midway in the fourth before the Blue Eagles reeled off a last-ditch fightback capped by a Ryan Buenafe trey that cut their deficit to just 10.

Parks, however, had no intention of extending Ateneo’s hopes as he swished through a dagger of a triple that made it a 64-51 count, practically sealing the deal for NU with 1:41 left.
 
Quotable Quotes:
 

NU coach Eric Altamirano: “I felt that was really the key (rebounding). It also helped Ravena didn’t play that much because he’s hurting. We knew he’s going to be doubtful but we prepared as if Kiefer is going to play. I felt we controlled the game in the first three quarters but we didn’t end it on a high note. Somehow, our defense relaxed and we allowed them to get their bearings with their outside shot.”


NU (64) - Parks 22, Mbe 14, Villamor 13, Javillonar 5, Alolino 4, Rosario 2, Khobuntin 2, Alejandro 2, Rono 0, De Guzman 0.

Ateneo (54) - Tiongson 13, Elorde 10, Buenafe 10, Newsome 9, Erram 4, Ravena 2, Pessumal 2, Golla 2, Capacio 2, Tolentino 0, Babilonia 0.
Quarterscores: 15-10, 33-21, 50-32, 64-54