Bulldogs dismantle Bombers; SSC Stags clip Tigers

National University used strong runs bridging the middle periods to hammer Jose Rizal U, 79-67, Tuesday in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup.

Both teams were tied at 32 when the Bulldogs closed the first half with a 14-5 run. NU then rattled off the first nine points in the third courtesy of three straight triples by Miguel Oczon to give NU a commanding 55-37 lead with seven minutes left before the final quarter.

NU stretched that lead to 24 after a jump shot by Marc Diputado gave the Bulldogs a 73-49 lead in the fourth quarter.

“For me it’s all about maturity,” said Bulldogs coach Jamike Jarin. “We’ve got the talent, but the challenge for us right now is the acceptance of roles. We’ve only got one basketball and it’s just a matter of redefining roles as many of these players were stars in high school.”

In another seniors’ match, San Sebastian survived a tight finish to pip University of Santo Tomas, 85-81.

The Tigers swallowed the Stags’ 16-point lead and led by a point in the final 38 seconds before RK Ilagan drew a foul and made two free throws that gave San Sebastian an 82-81 advantage, with 23 seconds left to play.

The Stags defense held on in the next play and Ilagan hit two more gift shots to seal the victory.

In the juniors division, the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws rallied for an 88-85 win over the luckless University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs.

Down by five, FEU went on a 12-2 run for an 86-81 cushion, on triples by Royce Mantua and Kyle Bautista with 38 seconds to play.

The Tiger Cubs made one last push with CJ Austria nailing a triple to move UST within two. UST then forced a turnover for a split at the stripe by Jethro Escoto.