Villamor sinks game-winning 3 to lift NU over Wangs

MANILA, Philippines — National University-BDO overcame a four-point deficit in the final 16.1 seconds to stun Wangs Basketball, 83-81, in the 2014 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Monday at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao.

Forward Dennice Villamor drained the game-winning 3-pointer, 82-81, with exactly a second left to lift the Bulldogs, who were without their injured star Ray Parks, to just their second win in nine games.

“We’re learning a new system that everybody will contribute,” said NU assistant coach Joey Guanio, filling in for head coach Eric Altamirano, who is still in the US looking for possible recruits to beef up the Bulldogs as part of their buildup for the next UAAP season.

The Couriers appeared well on their way to a victory after leading by four, 80-76, on a free throw by Mark Franco with 16.1 ticks left but the Bulldogs sank two triples with Gelo Alolino hitting the first with 8.0 seconds to go.

Macky Acosta had the chance to make it a three-point game but he also split his charities with 6.4 seconds remaining that left the door wide open for NU to steal the game.

Starting point guard Alolino topscored with 15 points while Glenn Khobuntin had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Villamor added 12 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Parks, the two-time UAAP MVP, sat the game out after spraining his ankle in NU’s 80-87 loss to Hog’s Breath last Thursday. Guanio said Park played through it that game and it got swollen after.

Guard Abel Galliquez paced Wangs with 14 points and nine rebounds. Michael Juico was held to just six points on three-of-11 shooting in 24 minutes off-the-bench.

Backup guard Cedric Labing-isa made a technical free throw with a second remaining after Wangs Basketball purposely called a timeout without having any just to setup a final play from the full length of the court.