Post-game interview: Bulldogs coach Eric Altamirano

Shamed and tamed in their first round meeting, the National University (NU) Bulldogs walloped the University of the East Red Warriors, 91-51, today to start the second round of the UAAP Season 72 men’s basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on a positive note.

The 40-point win tied the biggest margin since the league started to have a computerized archive in 2003.  Ironically, UE holds that record when it trashed UP, 99-59, on Sept. 8, 2007.

In this game, NU used a big second quarter surge turn the close match into a ghastly rout. A 20-2 run to close out the first half floored the Warriors as the Bulldogs took a commanding 40-20 lead at the break.

The Warriors were not able to recover in the second half as they grope for the form that won them their only win in the tournament so far – 72-71 at the expense of the Bulldogs back in the first round.

Cameroonian Emmanuel Mbe led five Bulldogs in double figures finishing with 21 points and hauling down 16 boards. Rookie Ray Parks added 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Bulldogs shot a remarkable 51 percent from the floor to offset their 23 turnovers while limiting the Warriors to just a paltry 28 percent. 

The scores:

NU 91 – Mbe 21, Parks 18, Villamor 10, Javillonar 10, Terso 10, Alolino 8, Ignacio 7, Neypes 2, Spencer 2, Celiz 2, Singh 1, Rono 0, Labing-isa 0, Khobuntin 0.

UE 51 – Casajeros 8, Santos 7, Zosa 6, Sumang 4, Enguio 4, Zamar 4, Sumido 4, Sabangan 2, Chavez 2, Tagarda 2, Duran 0, Montelibano 0, De Leon 0, Noble 0, Flores 0.

Quarters: 20-14, 40-20, 54-15, 91-51.