MANILA, Philippines - National U clamped down on defense in the second half then rode on Lee Villamor’s endgame heroics as it pulled the rug from under Adamson, 63-56, in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena yesterday.
Cameroonian Emmanuel Mbe went seven-of-nine from the field for 16 points and anchored the Bulldogs’ solid defense that held the Falcons, who seized control with double digits leads in the early going, to just 24 points in the second half.
Villamor, a rookie transferee from Rizal Technological U, hit two triples in an eight-point explosion in the fourth quarter, keying the Bulldogs’ fightback from 10 points down for the victory, their second against four defeats. He finished with 11 points.
“We’re still trying to find our game and in this game, it’s our defense that pulled us through,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano.
Earlier, La Salle took charge with a series of runs in the first half and never looked back as it rolled past University of the East, 87-63, to improve to a 3-2 (win-loss).
La Salle mentor Dindo Pumaren credited their perimeter defense as the key to their victory.
“I just told the boys to extend our defense outside because we know UE could hit there,” said Pumaren.
The Falcons led by 10 points in the first quarter and looked headed to joining the Far Eastern U Tams in second at 4-1. But the Bulldogs spoiled their bid and the San Marcelino-based squad fell to joint third with the Archers instead.
Four peat-seeking Ateneo leads the pack with a 5-0 mark.
Down 26-34 early in the third period, NU went to Mbe who powered his way to nine points in a big 17-2 run that had them wresting the lead at 43-36.
The Falcons regrouped and countered with 10 unanswered points to regain control at the close the period. They held on to a 52-47 lead early in the fourth but Villamor stepped up to cap a 13-3 tear as the Bulldogs grabbed the lead for good.
Ajeet Singh was then called for a flagrant foul on AdU’s Alex Nuyles with 5.4 seconds left in the contest in what appeared to be just a trip in rebound play. But the high-leaping Falcon settled for a split then made a turnover in the ensuing play, enabling the Bulldogs to clinch the victory.
And Altamirano isn’t happy about the call.