Bulldogs seek to bounce back vs. Falcons

By Anthony Divinagracia Posted Jul 20th 2013

National University (NU) just lost the chance to seize a share of the top spot.

But that won’t discourage the Bulldogs from going all out today as they face Adamson University in the first round of the 76^th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs gun for their fourth win against the Falcons at 4 p.m.

Last Wednesday, the Bulldogs almost toppled league-leading Far Eastern University from the crest of perfection, but miscues down the stretch blew that golden opportunity and NU reeled to its second defeat, 83-87.

Emmanuel Mbe led NU with a double-double of 27 points and 17 rebounds, while two-time MVP Ray Parks had 26 markers but shot a woeful 6-of-20.

Adamson on the other hand typified panic and confusion in its 59-71 loss to defending champion Ateneo de Manila University last Sunday.

The Falcons uncharacteristically went trigger-happy behind the arc but with disastrous results, making just 8 of their 32 attempts for a measly 25 percent clip. Adamson likewise shot miserably from the perimeter, sinking just 13 of 38 tries for a 30 percent norm.

Jericho Cruz tallied 21 markers while Roider Cabrera added 14 to lead Adamson which sorely missed the presence of bigman Rodney Brondial and import Ingrid Sewa.

Brondial and Sewa combined for only 12 points and 16 rebounds against Ateneo’s suffocating interior defense.

For NU, getting back on the winning track means climbing at 4-2, just enough to keep pace with the Tamaraws and idle University of Santo Tomas inside the upper half of the standings.

Currently at fifth, the host Falcons seek to remain within an earshot of the upper four. A win by Adamson will push the Falcons at 3-2. If De La Salle University losses against University of the East early today, the Falcons may just move up at provisional fourth place.

Parks and Mbe are again tipped to lead the veteran-stacked Bulldogs while Adamson will pin its hopes anew on Cabrera, Cruz, Brondial, and Sewa among others.

The game will air live on Studio 23, BALLS HD 167, and uaapsports.tv with a replay on the same day at 8 p.m. on BALLS SkyCable channel 34/Destiny Cable channel 36.