The Games That Play Us: The Bayside Boys Remix

The UE Red Warriors were caught in a swarm as the
Bulldogs clamped down on D.

NU BULLDOGS over UE RED WARRIORS, 90-55

Yes, it was “just” the UE Red Warriors whom the NU Bulldogs beat, er, obliterated, but, still, one cannot deny the ruthlessness with which the Bayside Boys (yes, that’s what I’m calling them now, since their home court is, literally, bayside) went about their business.

Of course, the obligatory nerves tempered expectations in the first period, with NU going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc and turning the ball over 6 times. UE, on the other hand, was all too happy to pounce on the Bulldogs’ opening day jitters. Super PG Roi Sumang stole the ball 3 times and hit 2 trifectas as the Reds of Recto entertained thoughts of an opening day upset right in NU’s own pound.

And then the second quarter happened.

35-8. That’s all anyone really needs to know. The Bulldogs turned a 2-point first quarter deficit into a 25-point bulge at the half, what with former RP-Youth standout Jeoff Javillonar pumping in 10 of his 19 points in the period, and erstwhile unknown Troy Rosario doing his best Sam Perkins impersonation, scoring 8 points in 8 minutes thanks to 2 triples. UE turned the ball over 6 times in the second quarter, mainly due to the 4 steals and 3 blocks NU inflicted on them. Coach Eric Altamirano’s boys really seemed to settle down in their system, dishing out 11 assists and shooting 50% from the floor in this period.

Afterwards, with a little under 5 minutes left in the third, the lead ballooned to 32 for NU.

As far as the game was concerned, that was all she wrote.

So what does this win mean for both teams?

For UE, well, coach Jerry Codiñera has his work cut out for him AGAIN, but he probably already knew that anyway. It’s not exactly a surprise UE gave NU a bit of a scare in the first frame – any team with a playmaker as explosive as Sumang can do that – but what UE really lacks is consistency. Sumang will be the barometer of this team’s success this season, but he’ll need a bit of help if coach Jerry wants to avoid the cellar. Adrian Santos and Chris Javier are you there? Help wanted. Fast.

On the other end of the floor, this was a STATEMENT (yes, all caps talaga) game for the Bulldogs. Will they be able to blow out their foes by 30+ points in their next 13 games? Hardly, especially since the Blue Eagles are up next, but they have served notice that they’re plenty different from the team that lost a handful of squeakers last season. It’s clear that, despite what humble press releases their camp might express, the Bayside Boys of NU have been remixed for one purpose only – no less than the UAAP Championship.

Scores:

NU 90 – Javillonar 19, Parks 16, Alolino 12, Rosario 10, De Guzman 8, Villamor 6, Mbe 4, Labing-isa 3, Ignacio 3, Betayene 3, Perez 2, Neypes 2, Celda 2, Singh 0, Roño 0, Khobuntin 0

UE 55 – Sumang 21, Razon 8, Gallanza 8, Olayon 7, Santos 4, Belleza 2, Javier 2, Flores 2, Sumido 1, Alberto 0, Villarias 0, Valdez 0, Duran 0, Duncil 0

QS: 13-15, 48-23, 72-40, 90-55

Notable Performers:

Ray Parks (NU) – 16pts, 6rebs, 6asts, 4stls, 3blks, 2 treys

Jeoff Javillonar (NU) – 19pts, 11rebs, 2 treys, 1ast, 1stl

Roi Sumang (UE) – 21pts, 5rebs, 4stls, 3asts, 3 treys