Bulldogs snap Tamaraws' winning streak
Ray-Ray Parks just reminded everybody why he is the reigning league MVP.
Delivering when the Bulldogs needed him most, Parks came up big in the fourth canto to help National University stun erstwhile unscathed Far Eastern University 61-57 Thursday night in the UAAP Season 75 men’s basketball action at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Stretched to the limit by the hard-nosed defense of the Tamaraws, Parks fired eight crucial points to finish with 17 points and capped it with a big defensive stop against FEU ace Terrence Romeo that enabled NU to improve its record to 3-2.
More importantly, the huge win, which came on the heels of their stinging 71-77 setback against UST last Saturday, helped NU underscore its serious title bid.
“It’s a breakthrough win for us,” stated NU coach Eric Altamirano. “It will help us in boosting our confidence.”
The Bulldogs also pierced the Tamaraws’ veil of invincibility against them, snapping a losing streak that dated back to 2008.
And Altamirano credited his team’s vastly-improving poise, saying: “I think the key was our composure. We’ve been through a lot of test. The boys showed a lot of character and I really commend the boys for their resiliency.”
Romeo came up with a game-high 18 points but turned from hero to zero for FEU as he unleashed a risky three-point shot Parks that went way short off the mark.
Down 57-60 with 16.8 seconds left, Romeo tried to force his way against Parks but failed to inch closer, causing him to unleash an awkward-looking attempt that failed to hit the mark.
Former MVP RR Garcia groped for form throughout with a miserable five-point outing in 37 minutes. No other Tamaraw hit the 10-point plateau, with unheralded forwards Mac Belo and Mark Bringas tallying eight.
Parks made his first field goal at the 4:37 mark of the payoff quarter then drained six of the last nine points of NU, capped by two charities for a 60-57 lead with 16.8 seconds left.
