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Bulldogs quash Green Archers' Final 4 hopes
National University shut the door on La Salle's Final Four hopes as the Bulldogs thrashed the Green Archers, 56-40, Thursday in the 74th UAAP men's basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum. The Bulldogs, already out of the playoff picture, once again played the spoilers role against the Green Archers as they also eliminated the Taft-based squad from the Final Four race with a 63-61 win on September 10, 2009. Undefeated Ateneo, second-running Adamson, Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas are the semifinalists this season. NU, which tied their victims with a 5-8 slate, also foiled Ateneo's bid of taking the No. 2 spot and the twice-to-beat incentive that goes with it with a 96-68 overtime win on September 15, 2007. The Bulldogs played with more determination as they try to end the season on a winning note. They will face playoff-bound FEU on September 11, the final play date of the elimination round. "I know we are out but our mindset is that we wanted to play as if we wanted to qualify in the Final Four," said NU coach Eric Altamirano. "Our motivation is respectability and pride." Bobby Ray Parks finished with 25 markers, nine rebounds and four assists but it was seldom-used Kyle Neypes who stepped up as he scored five points in NU's 20-1 fourth-quarter finish. That scoring run put the Bulldogs ahead for good after the Green Archers enjoyed a 39-36 lead early in the fourth. "Coming off the bench is his (Neypes) role. When Sean (Mbe) got into foul trouble, we can't look for anybody but Kyle and he took the challenge. He is a smart player and he proved it in this game," said Altamirano. La Salle's scoring output was the lowest since the computerization of statistics. The previous low was a 65-46 loss by the Green Archers to the University of the East Red Warriors on July 11, 2009. The Green Archers struggled from the field in the fourth quarter shooting only 2-of-16 for five points. Almond Vosotros, who also had seven rebounds and two steals, made 10 of his 16 points in the first quarter and failed to get support from his teammates. La Salle ended the third with a 6-0 spurt for a 35-32 lead. Maui Villanueva scored on a putback with seven minutes left in the game for a 39-36 Green Archers lead but that was the last time they scored a field goal. Parks tied the game with a three-pointer while Neypes made a jumper for a 45-39 edge. Vosotros split his free throw but Neypes answered with a lay-up at the other end. — JVP, GMA News
