Ray Parks outduels Juneric Baloria as NU escapes Perpetual Help

Bobby Ray Parks of NU Bulldogs (right) INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—National University knocked off Perpetual Help, 70-67, to advance in the stepladder Sweet 16 phase in the PCCL at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (Faith) gym in Tanauan City, Batangas.

Two-time UAAP MVP Ray Parks led the Bulldogs with 24 points in a shootout with Altas’ NCAA Rookie of the Year Juneric Baloria, who kept his team in striking distance all throughout with 23 points.

Parks, who also grabbed eight rebounds, accounted for NU’s final eight points—assisting on a go-ahead triple by Robin Roño, 65-64, with 45 seconds left—before sinking five free throws in the final 23 ticks remaining to seal the win.

Perpetual Help had the chance to tie and forge overtime but Baloria’s three-pointer with 3.0 seconds left never hit the rim as time ran out.

Before Baloria’s last-second attempt, the Altas also blew a couple of opportunities after Joel Jolangcob split his charities and Earl Thompson missing a shot off Jolangcob’s missed freebie.

Baloria, the fiery guard, put Perpetual Help on top, 64-62, before converting on a drive that pulled the Altas within two, 66-68, with 13 seconds left.

With the win, the Bulldogs arranged a meeting with the University of the East Red Warriors on Thursday.

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