MANILA, Philippines–National University poured in quick points in overtime and tripped Adamson, 81-77, Thursday in the 75th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bulldogs averted another meltdown and scored nine straight points within three minutes of overtime, and made sure not to leave the Falcons any window to pull of another comeback.
Joshua Alolino and Troy Rosario scored the first four points in overtime before Bobby Ray Parks hit his 31st point then Emmanuel Mbe made it a 79-71 lead, en route to NU’s fifth win.
“We just stayed strong and stuck to your system, and we made our shots,” said Parks, who became the first player since 2003 to have notched back-to-back 30 point games.
Mbe also plucked 20 points along with 14 markers despite getting into foul trouble early.
“I told them not to lose heart, it’s part of our ‘growing pains.’ But for us to grow, we need these kinds of games,” said coach Eric Altamirano.
NU, which led as big as 12 points, seemed headed to an easy win, maintaining a 69-60 lead with just a little under two minutes remaining.
But the Bulldogs became tentative and relaxed on the offense, allowing the Falcons to surge and tie the game at 71 at the end of regulation.
Roider Cabrera, the streakshooting forward to have been relatively silent on the offense in the first round, broke out with 22 points including two straight from downtown to send the game into OT.
Eric Camson also followed up his breakout game last week with 23 points — nine in the payoff period– and 11 rebounds, but on another losing cause.
Adamson tried to break through and snatch the lead a couple of times but failed, and didn’t have steam to keep up with NU in extra time.
The Falcons, last year’s second place after the eliminations, is now mostly part of the lower half of the standings with a 1-7 slate.