NU nips Ateneo, snares twice-to-beat edge for the first time

Bobby Ray Parks of NU Bulldogs (right) INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — National University nipped reigning titlist Ateneo 70-65 Wednesday in the UAAP season 76 men’s basketball tournament and snared a twice-to-beat edge for the first time.

The Bulldogs concluded the elimination round with a 10-4 card, but with a few games left to be played among other final four hopefuls, the semifinals placings are yet to be determined.

If La Salle, which faces University of Santo Tomas next, forges a three-way tie at 10-4 along with Far Eastern University and NU, the Bulldogs are assured of the top spot due to superior quotient.

But if La Salle, though, drops to third place, FEU holds the edge in its head-to-head battle against NU and will assume the number one spot.

For head coach Eric Altamirano, though, it won’t matter whether the Bulldogs end up first or second, just as long as they’re armed with a twice-to-beat edge.

“We’re not choosy. Every opponent [we could face] is tough,” said Altamirano.

NU also had to go through the wringer against Ateneo, but got breaks in the end as the Bulldogs pounced on sorry misses from the Blue Eagles in the last two minutes.

Then came Denise Villamor’s dagger of a triple off an on-point pass from Ray Parks, which stretched NU’s lead to five with 22.2 ticks left.

Parks, the league’s reigning MVP, later on sealed the win with two clutch freethrows with 1.9 seconds remaining.

He led with 24 points, seven rebounds, an assist and two steals to lead the Bulldogs in a historic feat — the squad’s first incentive in the semis since the final four implementation in 1994.

The Blue Eagles, meanwhile, dropped to 7-6 and are in danger of missing the final four as they slid a game behind the Tigers (7-5) in the standings. The two face off on September 18.