MANILA, Philippines – Nearly nothing could go wrong for National University (NU) Bulldogs as they displayed a show of dominance in a 77-62 drubbing of the Adamson University (AdU) Falcons on Sunday, August 5, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
On paper, the matchup looked promising. For the first 6 minutes of regulation, however, only one team showed up.
A Lee Villamor triple opened the festivities for National U and it didn’t take long for Bobby Ray Parks and Emmanuel Mbe to follow up with 3 straight fastbreak baskets. In no time, the Bulldogs were up 9-0.
The Falcons could find no answer for Mbe and the Cameroonian muscled his way inside for easy lay-ins and an uncontested dunk.
Adamson center John Brondial was tagged for two early fouls, relegating him to the bench immediately. As if things couldn’t get worse, King Falcon Alex Nuyles re-injured his shoulder with a little over two minutes left in the quarter.
With a 14 to 4 scoring advantage in the paint, the Bulldogs ended the first on top, 20-11.
Hampered by injury and foul trouble, the Falcons were severely outmatched in the frontcourt. It wasn’t rare to see NU’s big men posting up on players some 5 inches shorter. Despite Eric Camson and Roider Cabrera’s attempts to keep within striking distance, Adamson faced a 39-29 deficit at the half.
Picking up where they left off in the first quarter, the Bulldogs surged to a 55-34 advantage via spirited defense and a relentless Parks-led fastbreak attack.
Brondial’s resurgence late in the canto would be all for naught as the Falcons stared at a nigh insurmountable 22-point lead, 66-44, heading into the 4th.
The game’s final 10 minutes featured an Adamson run too late to make a difference.
Showcasing the form he so heartily displayed last season, Mbe dominated with 20 points and 15 rebounds. The NU stalwart also shot 8 for 11 from the floor. -Rappler.com
Quarter scores: 20-11, 39-29, 66-44, 77-62
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