Miserable free throw shooting dooms NU in Game 1 loss

Bob Guerrero
NU's Gelo Alolino is defended by FEU's Achie Inigo. (Photo by Bob Guerrero)
NU's Gelo Alolino is defended by FEU's Achie Inigo. (Photo by Bob Guerrero)



The free throw line is 4.5 meters away from the basket. On Saturday, it might as well have been 4.5 kilometers away for the NU Bulldogs.

NU fell 75-70 to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 77 Finals Game 1 at the MOA Arena, despite solid performances from their top players, namely Gelo Alolino, Troy Rosario, and Alfred Aroga. But they just couldn't coax the ball in from the stripe. And that proved their downfall.

The Bulldogs were an appalling 15 of 31 from the line, or just 48.39%. FEU, on the other hand, were granted just 13 attempts from the line and made eleven of them for a very impressive 84.62% clip. Achie Iñigo led the way for the Tams, draining all six of his free throw attempts.

NU outrebounded FEU 44 to 43 and matched Far Eastern from two-point range with a 23-for 53 mark from the field. By almost every statistical measure NU was near FEU's equal. But when it came to the fifteen-foot line, the Bulldogs produced brick after sorry brick, time and time again.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Aroga was fouled and hit both of his free throws to give NU a 17-14 lead. The Bulldogs would get splits from every single other trip to the line (not counting and-1s), with the exception of Alolino's muffing both attempts to start the third quarter.

Alolino was so clutch from the free throw line in their bruising semifinal series with Ateneo, but couldn't connect when it counted the most.

Down four with just 38 ticks left, Alolino failed to hit his first shot, while his second rattled in reluctantly. Both he and Glenn Khobuntin went three from seven from the line for NU. Aroga wasn't much better, jawing half of his attempts.

It was a sorry way for NU to bow out of the match, as they battled back from as much as thirteen down in the third quarter to make a game of it with Rodolfo Alejandro's corner trey with a minute left that brought them to within three, 71-68. But it would prove to be the Sampaloc team's last field goal.

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“Hindi pa namin alam kung papaano manalo,” admitted Bulldogs coach Eric Altamirano after the game. “The missed free throws really did us in. I have to attribute that to mental fatigue.”

“Masyadong emotional ang mga bata kanina,” rued Altamirano. “Usually they are focused and relaxed.”

When asked if NU's lousy free throw shooting was a blessing for his squad, FEU coach Nash Racela instead said with a smile, “it was a blessing for NU to be given 31 free throws.”

Racela, however, was quick to reassure the media that he was not blaming the referees for biased officiating.

“'Di natin alam. Baka tama naman ang mga tawag, even though I think they got twelve free throws in the third quarter and we had none.”

For Altamirano, it will be back to the drawing board.

“The players need to focus when they take free throws,” he explained. “They have to put their mind to it.”

Altamirano said that former Bulldog Bobby Ray Parks may once again be present at NU practices leading up to Game 2, and that legendary ex-Bulldog big man Danny Ildefonso is also welcome. When asked if extra practice from the free throw line will also be a part of his training leading up to Wednesday, Altamirano was unequivocal in his response, not even waiting for the question to be finished before replying.

“Definitely.”


Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.

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