UAAP: NU rookie frustrates title-hungry Adamson

MANILA, Philippines—All eyes were planted on National University’s prized newcomer Ray Parks.

But out of nowhere, it was the Bulldogs’ other rookie, Dennis Villamor, who took the spotlight.

Villamor hit a couple of crucial baskets to help NU break out of its slump at the expense of Adamson, 63-56, Sunday in the UAAP Season 74 at the PhilSports Arena.

A transferee from Rizal Technological University, Villamor sank a go-ahead off-balanced shot to complete the stunning upset of the title-favorite Falcons.

The Bulldogs, who stopped a four-game slide, drew all but two of the last 10 points from Villamor.

Villamor capped off his clutch efforts with a dagger triple that stretched National U’s gap to five, 60-55, with under 25 ticks left.

NU also got a big lift from center Emmanuel Mbe, who finally awoke from his slumber with a dominating double-double of 16 points and 12 boards along with two blocks.

It was a game of spurts with both squads retaliating with a run of their own. NU, though, just had the final push.

Adamson led 48-43 in the opening minutes of the fourth courtesy of Eric Camson, who came alive to score nine straight points bridging the third and fourth quarters.

But Camson and the Falcons would eventually lose steam as they saw their three-game winning streak snapped.

Parks was hardly felt, as the six-foot-four forward, put up forced shot en route to a seven-point performance–way below his league-leading 19 points per game average.

NU befuddled Adamson by mixing it up defensively as coach Eric Altamirano opted to utilize a zone defense that clogged the painted area and forced the Falcons to rely more on their outside shots.

Adamson dropped to 3-2 to share third place with La Salle, which demolished UE in the first game, 87-63.