NU gains share of top spot with fifth straight win
National University showed how a prized reinforcement can make a big difference.
Import Sean Mbe pounced on the absence of counterpart Charles Mammie, powering the Bulldogs to a big 81-73 victory against short-handed University of the East that gave them a share of the lead in UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball action at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The towering Mbe banged in eight of his game-high 18 points in the payoff canto then reigning league MVP Ray Parks and his teammates put the finishing touches as NU roared to its fifth consecutive win and eighth overall against three setbacks, tying idle Far Eastern U at the top of the eight-team field.
More than avenging a stinging 66-71 defeat in their initial meeting last July 6, the Bulldogs also slapped the Red Warriors their second straight loss and fifth overall in 10 starts that saw UE slipped into a tie with University of Santo Tomas for fifth place.
JM Noble led UE with 16 points and seven rebounds but prolific guard Roi Sumang struggled against NU’s suffocating defense, settling for just 10 markers on 3-of-15 shooting from the field. Both Mammie and Casajeros, who were serving their respective suspensions, showed up in street clothes and watched behind the team’s bench.
The Main Man: Smelling blood with the absence of Charles Mammie, Sean Mbe asserted himself in the paint.
The former member of the league’s Mythical Team proved too hot to handle in the pivotal canto, pumping in eight points, spiked by a monstrous dunk and a clutch bank shot that ignited the team’s 11-4 breakaway for a big 70-61 cushion.
Mbe also hauled down 10 boards, issued two assists and swatted two shots in 32 minutes of play.
Honorable Mention: Ray Parks backstopped Mbe with 18 points, eight of them from the charity stripe in the fourth canto. He also had 11 rebounds.
Also giving the Bulldogs a big lift was Robin Rono, who finished with 12 points spiked by three triples. The 5-foot-8 guard was also responsible for making life miserable for UE’s top gun Roi Sumang, who failed to reprise his deadly form throughout.
Game Turning Point: After a Chris Javier lay-up pulled UE to within 57-59 midway in the fourth canto, NU broke away for good behind the exploits of Sean Mbe, who frolicked in the paint and enabled the Bulldogs to take a 70-61 lead going to the final three minutes.
They Said It:
NU coach Eric Altamirano: “We’re happy to be number one but we’re not contented. Coming into this game, we knew Mammie and Casajeros will not play. We also knew UE will come with a lot of emotions and they are going to use that as motivation. There was some part in the game that we lost our composure but the good thing is we were able to regain it. We were able to regroup and found ways to get back into our game plan.”
NU center Sean Mbe: “We just came out to play our game and not to think who’s out and who’s in there.”
The scores:
NU (81) – Mbe 18, Parks 18, Rono 12, Villamor 6, Rosario 6, Javillonar 6, Porter 4, khobuntin 4, Alolino 3, Javelona 2, Alejandro 2.
UE (73) – Noble 16, Olivares 15, Sumang 10, Javier 10, Jumao-as 8, Sumido 6, Santos 5, Olayon 2, Alberto 1, Pujante 0, Hernandez 0, Flores 0. Quarterscores: 16-14, 41-31, 52-49, 81-73.
