NU, Perpetual arrange finals showdown in Fr. Martin Cup

Games on Sunday
(Trinity University of Asia gymnasium)
8 a.m. La Salle vs FEU (women)
9:30 a.m. San Beda vs Letran (jrs)
11 a.m. UPHSD vs NU (srs)

MANILA, Philippines - The National University Bulldogs and the University of the Perpetual Help Altas arranged a UAAP-NCAA Finals showdown in the 19th Fr. Martin Summer Cup after dispatching separate foes in the semifinal round yesterday.

Alfred Aroga and Emmanuel Mbe stepped up in the absence of injured Bobby Ray Parks Jr. scoring 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs as they stopped the University of the Philippines Maroons, 67-63, at the Trinity University of Asia gymnasium in Quezon City.  

The Altas held off the Adamson Falcons with their zone defense to prevail, 57-54, and earn their first ever finals stint in a pre-season tournament in seven years.

With their eighth consecutive triumph, the Bulldogs returned to the finals for the second time since 2011. The finals is scheduled at 11 a.m. Sunday, also at the TUA gymnasium in Quezon City.

Parks, who is recovering from an ankle injury he sustained while in Australia with the team last week, watched from afar as Mark de Guzman and Cedrick Labing Isa sank crucial baskets in the last 90 seconds, and got NU past a 63-all deadlock.

Harold Arboleda fired 12 points, and made nine of it in the first period, and his efforts helped the Altas move ahead right away, 18-10, and nurse their 10-point edge, 31-21, at the halftime.

The Falcons, who showed up with Jing Ruiz calling the shots on behalf of Leo Austria,  rallied to overtake the Altas, 51-50, in the last quarter behind the efforts of Ingrid Sewa and Jericho Cruz.

But the Altas slowed them down with their zone defense, and got back the upperhand, 56-51, in the last three minutes off a pair of baskets from Juneric Baloria and rookie Nestor Bantayan.

Unlike the seniors, the juniors will have an all-NCAA Finals showdown.

Ivan Villanueva struck with 18 points for the Letran Squires to put away Xavier School, 70-66, in the semifinals while the San Beda Red Cubs, who got 14 points from Ranbill Tongco in roaring past La Salle-Zobel, 74-63 in the other semifinal pairing. 

In the women’s side, an all-UAAP Finals showdown was booked featuring De La Salle Lady Archers and the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws.