Basketball
NU destroys UP with huge second quarter run
InterAKTV/Roy Afable
National University used a huge second quarter blast to trash University of the Philippines, 67-50, in UAAP Season 75 action Thursday afternoon at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The Bulldogs bounced back from a tough 24-point loss to Ateneo last weekend led by reigning Most Valuable Player Ray Parks, who posted 18 points, six rebounds and six assists.
But it was Parks’ teammates who did the damage in a blistering 17-0 attack in the second quarter that gave NU a comfortable cushion en route to the victory.
“The second unit did a good job sustaining our defense,” NU coach Eric Altamirano said. “The boys did great today.”
NU came out roaring in the first quarter, with Parks leading the offense to grab an early 16-6 lead. But rookie guard Henry Asilum provided UP energy at the end of the period to help cut the NU lead to just six points, 16-10, after the opening salvo.
But the Bulldogs broke loose in the second quarter with Parks sitting on the bench, grabbing a comfortable 42-18 lead at the end of the half thanks to the contributions by forwards Robin Rono, Jul-Ashri Ignacio and Jeoffrey Javillonar.
They led by as much as 26 points at the 2:43 mark of the third quarter after a Parks three-pointer before ending the third period with a 52-28 cushion.
The Maroons could only come as close as 16 points the rest of the game.
NU won its second game in three outings to share second spot with La Salle and Ateneo, while UP suffered its second straight loss.
