NU crushes La Salle to claim FilOil preseason crown

InterAKTV file photo/Justin Gener

The National University Bulldogs completed an impressive 11-game sweep of the FilOil-Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup after defeating the La Salle Green Archers, 64-54, in the title game at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan Tuesday.

With UAAP Most Valuable Player Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. firing on all cylinders, the Bulldogs opened up what had been a tight contest in the early goings of the final period as they clinched the preseason tilt ahead of a promising campaign in the upcoming collegiate basketball season.

Parks finished with 19 points, including a big three-pointer that quenched a late rally by the Green Archers, alongside four rebounds and two assists en route to being named tournament MVP.

Teammate Emmanuel Mbe, who was named Best Defensive Player of the tournament, had 13 points and 15 rebounds in the game.

La Salle played excellent defense in the first half, holding the Bulldogs down to 28 points on under 30% shooting from the field, but conceded the last 10 points at the end the half to enter the halftime break down by two points.

The Green Archers kept things close in the third, despite seven points from Parks late in the quarter, with the Bulldogs taking a three-point lead into the final period.

NU had a strong start to the fourth, extending their advantage to up to nine points. But La Salle, behind big shots from LA Revilla and Almon Vosotros, made one last push but saw their hopes extinguished when Parks hit a triple to all but put the game away with about a minute to play.

Revilla scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds while Norbert Torres added 13. Rookie sensation Jeron Teng, who averaged over 11 points per game in the tournament, struggled in the final and finished with just four points.

With the win, the Bulldogs capped a dominant run in the tournament where they posted double-digit margins of victory in eight of their 11 wins, including a 17-point rout of the four-time UAAP defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles in the semifinals.

Ateneo earlier ended their campaign on a good note after defeating the San Beda Red Lions, 66-55, in the third-place game.

Greg Slaughter led Ateneo with 24 points and 11 rebounds while Justin Chua added eight points off the bench for the Blue Eagles.

NU’s Parks and Mbe, DLSU’s Torres and Ateneo’s Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena were named to the tournament’s mythical team.

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