THE NATIONAL University Bulldogs moved into fourth place in the standings after they rode the heroics of star wingman Bobby Ray Parks in defeating the La Salle Green Archers, 72-62, in the 75th UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Parks scored a whopping 32 points including several in crunchtime which sealed NU’s seventh win in 11 games while dropping La Salle to fifth place with their 7-5 (win-loss) mark.
The Archers were hot in their pursuit of the Bulldogs in the fourth canto but Parks pushed them back with two shot-clock beating baskets.
Meanwhile, the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles bounced back from the upset to the University of the East Red Warriors last time out with a 79-72 win over the Adamson Falcons.
Defense was the name of the game for Ateneo as they kept Adamson from scoring a basket in the final three minutes of the match to hack out the hard-earned win. Ateneo now has a 10-2 record to secure their 14th straight trip to the semifinal round.
Nico Salva had 24 points to pace Ateneo while Cebuano big man Greg Slaughter had 16. Adamson was led by the 26 points of Eric Camson as Adamson lost for the 10th time in 12 games.
BOX SCORES:
ATENEO (79) – Salva 24, Slaughter 16, Ravena 15, Elorde 10, Chua 6, Tiongson 3, Buenafe 3, Sumalinog 1, Erram 1, Gonzaga 0, Golla 0.
ADAMSON (72) – Camson 26, Cruz 14, Cabrera 10, Monteclaro 8, Brondial 8, Rios 4, Etrone 2, Trollano 0, Petilos 0, Agustin 0. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio