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| Roider Cabrera started like a house on fire against NU. (image by Ralph Samson/FullCourtFresh.com) |
AdU Soaring Falcons over the NU Bulldogs, 68-53
When the smoke cleared on August 18, 2011, Ray Parks stood alone as the best player on the floor. The rest of the NU Bulldogs, however, lay face down, for the Adamson Soaring Falcons stood as the better team – the winning team.
Coach Leo Austria’s boys withstood Parks’s 31-point outburst, and had plenty to spare, as the Falcons earned their 7th win and further solidified their hold on 2nd spot right behind Ateneo.
And how did the San Marcelino side manage it?
One word – TEAM.
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| Alex Nuyles raises his arms in triumph after surviving the best individual performance of the season. (image by Joseph Nebrida/Inboundpass.com) |
Adamson had thrice as many assists as NU. Parks scored more than half of NU’s output, while Adamson’s own total was spread out more widely. They had 6 guys score 6 or more points. NU just had Mbe do it aside from Parks. And the best part for Adamson? Lester Alavarez didn’t even score. In fact, he only attempted thrice from the field, but he did dish out 5 assists, filling in the facilitator’s role quite well.
Now, Parks did play really well. He almost put the Bulldogs within striking distance by himself in the fourth. He shot 12-of-19 from the field and 7-of-8 from the stripe. He had 5 boards and a steal. But this is the stat that kills – Parks had 0 assists, which is a little strange after he had 7 dimes against the Red Warriors last week.
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| Ray Parks was the best player that afternoon. Too bad he wasn't on the better team. (image by Joseph Nebrida/Inboundpass.com) |
This loss cannot be put squarely on Parks’s shoulders, though. Even if the athletic Fil-Am scored most of his squad’s points, he only had about a third of the shot attempts. Mbe and the rest of NU shot just 10-of-42, well below what they need to have a chance at beating a team of Adamson’s caliber. The Bulldogs were also outrebounded, and had 0 triples compared to the 8 treys of the Falcons.
On the same day FEU mustered enough composure to steal a game from UP, NU wasn’t able to do the same against Adamson. What could this mean? NU isn’t Final Four-ready yet. And at 3-6 with games against FEU, Ateneo, La Salle and UST still forthcoming, the window is closing fast. Nevertheless, coach Eric Altamirano’s wards have a chance to get back on the winning track on Sunday versus UP.
As for the Falcons, well, they’re clearly soaring above the competition. They’ve avenged their only other loss of the season, and seem poised to give the Tamaraws a difficult time in a few days. If they continue playing great defense, playing team-ball, and shooting well, then perhaps getting vengeance on the immaculate Eagles won’t be far-off as well.
AdU 68 – Lozada 13, Nuyles 13, Cabrera 11, Camson 10, Cañada 9, Brondial 6, Mayara 4, Etrone 2, Alvarez 0
NU 53 – Parks 31, Mbe 6, Celiz 4, Khobuntin 3, Alolino 2, Meypes 2, Singh 2, Villamor 2, Terso 1, Ignacio 0, Javillonar 0
QS: 20-10, 37-22, 48-38, 68-53 
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