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| Photo by Marlo Cueto/NPPA Images |
In an emphatic 56-40 victory in today's Season 74 UAAP game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the NU Bulldogs
crushed the DLSU Green Archers in the fourth with a game-closing 20-1 blast. It was NU's fifth win in 13 games, which tied them with La Salle at fifth place.
crushed the DLSU Green Archers in the fourth with a game-closing 20-1 blast. It was NU's fifth win in 13 games, which tied them with La Salle at fifth place.
"Our mindset was to play as if we were trying to qualify for the Final Four," NU Coach Eric Altamirano told reporters. "We wanted to earn again the respect of the league."
With La Salle leading 39-36 with seven minutes remaining, rookies Bobby Ray Parks and Kyle Neypes led an onslaught that turned the game around and sent the Archers reeling to their second absence from the semifinals in the last three seasons.
Archers snag second-lowest output of season
Parks, sizzling in the final canto, finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists to strengthen his case for the Most Valuable Player award and even though no other NU cager ended up in double figures, eight more Bulldogs posted on the board for the Sampaloc-based squad.
"We were humbled in the last game (against Ateneo)," Altamirano added. "So I told the boys that we need to end the season right."
After giving up 61 in the loss to the Blue Eagles, NU limited the Archers to the second-lowest output this season, also the second-worst since the UAAP started to take stats using computerized technology in 2003.
Ironically, NU has the worst record when they scored only 39 points against Ateneo last Saturday.
NU began lethargic
NU was actually lethargic on offense in the first three quarters but pummeled La Salle, 24-5, in the last 10 minutes to gain momentum going into their last match with Final Four-bound University of Santo Tomas on Sunday.
"Today, we really asserted ourselves defensively," Altamirano shared after limiting the Archers to two-of-16 shooting from the field in the fourth.
Hobbled by foul trouble, Emmanuel Mbe only managed to score seven markers and pull down five boards for the Bulldogs, who were missing the services of skipper Jolas Terso (fractured pinky) and enforcer Choi Ignacio (ankle sprain).
Almond Vosotros was the lone bright spot for La Salle but the sophomore guard only had one point after halftime to the chagrin of the Archers faithful. Papot Paredes, Luigi dela Paz and Simon Atkins each scored four.
The scores
NU (56): Parks 25, Mbe 7, Javillonar 7, Neypes 5, Singh 4, Villamor 2, Labing-isa 2, Celda 2, Alolino 2, Rono 0, Khobuntin 0, Magat 0
La Salle (40): Vosotros 16, Paredes 4, Dela Paz 4, Atkins 4, Torres 3, Marata 3, Revilla 2, Villanueva 2, Mendoza 2, Van Opstal 0, Gotladera 0, Tampus 0
Quarters: 17-15, 26-22, 32-35, 56-40
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