Bulldogs hold off Maroons, enhance Final Four bid

National University is making sure it controls its destiny as it aims to make the Final Four for the first time since 2001.

This year's hosts overcame a furious fourth-quarter charge by the gritty Fighting Maroons of University of the Philippines to hack out a 65-60 win Sunday and momentarily seize fourth spot in the UAAP Season 75 men’s basketball action at the MOA Arena.

Struggling with just two measly points in the first half, Bobby Ray Parks got on a roll in the third, pumping in 13 to finish with 17 markers while Cameroon import Emmanuel Mbe contributed 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to help the Bulldogs improve their record to 8-5, just half-a-game ahead of fifth-running La Salle (7-5).

Jeth Troy Rosario collected 10 points before getting injured at the 7:03 mark of the third canto for the Bulldogs, who are raring to win the much-anticipated replay of their second-round match with Far Eastern University on September 23.

"It’s important for us to get this win and also on Sunday to help us make it to the Final Four,” stated NU coach Eric Altamirano. “We’re looking at this game first. The other scenarios are out of control. What’s within our control is our game against FEU.”

The defeat, their seventh straight and 13th overall against a lone win, sent UP to its fourth consecutive–and fifth in the last six years–last-place finish in the league, giving their eight graduating players a dismal send-off.

Alvin Padilla, who has already used his five-year eligibility along with Mike Silungan, Diony Hipolito, Mark Lopez, Mike Gamboa, Jelo Montecastro, Alinko Mbah, Robby Wierzba, and Julius Wong, collected 14 markers for the Fighting Maroons, who put on a big late-game scare anew, only to flounder again.

“In the first half, we played according to how we wanna play,” stated NU coach Eric Altamirano. “But in the third and fourth, we lost our focus, discipline and give UP a chance to comeback. They’re (UP) a team that really never gives up.
They’re always there. You can’t relax and have to play your best against them.”

Barely ahead 12-11 after the first period, the Bulldogs shackled the Fighting Maroons in the second, scoring 14 of the first 16 points before padding their lead to 30-21 at the break.

As expected, Parks took charge both offensively and defensively in the third, scoring 13 markers and feeding Mbe for an alley-oop play that gave the Bulldogs a commanding 47-29 lead.

The Fighting Maroons, however, dropped an 18-4 run bridging the third and fourth cantos, pulling within 47-51 off a split by Padilla.

As NU started to become tentative offensively with Parks setting the table, UP continued its big fourth-quarter surge, closing in on at 60-63 off Chris Ball’s three-point playwith 1:06 seconds left.

But the Bulldogs managed to hang on, with Javillonar and Alolino splitting their freebies that pegged the final count.

“I just have to be more aggressive and my teammates are really looking for me. I’m just trying to help my teammates and our team win,” said Parks while quickly setting his sights against the Tamaraws, saying: “We have to focus on Sunday against FEU and win that game to have a better chance (of making it to the Final Four).”