National University overcame a resilient Adamson squad, 66-65, to clinch the first Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
Mark Parks continued his standout performance, drilling a go-ahead and-one layup in the final 10.9 seconds to lift the Bulldogs back to the Final Four after a one-year absence.
But the hard work is just beginning for NU, which maintained its position atop the standings with a 9-2 record. They remain ahead of defending champion University of the Philippines, who sit at 8-3.
“Just like coach (Jeff Napa) said, we still have a lot of work to do. We stepped up when we needed to, but it’s still not enough,” Parks said. He finished with 10 points, three rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
“Our goal is to make it to the Finals, and that’s what we’re gonna be trying to reach for. Coach Jeff explained to us that it’s a championship team that we need to be, so we still have a lot of work to do.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
After Matty Montebon sank two free throws to give the Soaring Falcons a 65-63 lead with 37.5 seconds remaining, a series of defensive stops and missed opportunities kept the door open for a potential Bulldogs comeback, despite trailing by nine points in the fourth quarter.
As Manu Anabo and Jolo Manansala exchanged turnovers on a single possession, Matty Erolon missed crucial free throws that could have extended Adamson’s lead to four with 15.9 seconds left.
Seizing the moment, Parks sprinted the length of the court and converted a contested and-one layup, giving NU a slim 66-65 advantage.
Parks’ heroics continued on defense as he contested Montebon’s potential game-winning three-pointer — which had accounted for Adamson’s last four points — with 1.7 seconds left, effectively sealing the Bulldogs’ Final Four berth.
Steve Nash Enriquez missed his free throws with 0.7 seconds remaining, forcing Montebon into a desperation full-court heave that failed, confirming NU’s victory and postseason spot.
With the win, the Bulldogs officially returned to the league’s postseason after finishing seventh in an all-Filipino campaign in Season 87. This marks NU’s third Final Four appearance in four seasons.
Beyond securing the first postseason ticket in a highly competitive eight-team field, the Bulldogs also solidified their hold on solo first place with a 9-2 record.
“Alam mo yung panalo ka, pero pakiramdam mo, talo ka? Yung Adamson kasi, talagang binigay nila yung best nila. They came out prepared and they came out ready. Siguro yung basketball gods, talagang bliness lang din kami sa dulo kahit we played a bad game,” Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa said.
Figueroa overcame a slow start of two points on 1-of-8 shooting in the first three quarters to finish as NU’s leading scorer with 13 points, along with six assists, four rebounds, and two steals.
Paul Francisco atoned for a wide-open missed layup in the clutch, finishing with nine points, two assists, and one steal.
Jumamoy contributed six of his eight points in the fourth quarter, adding two rebounds. Meanwhile, Gambian center Omar John nearly tallied a double-double with seven points and 10 rebounds, plus two steals and one assist.
The Bulldogs will next face another Final Four contender, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, on Wednesday, November 12, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other hand, the Soaring Falcons fell to solo sixth in the eight-team field after suffering their second consecutive loss. They have dropped below .500 to a 5-6 record.
Montebon led Adamson with a game-high 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Manzano posted another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, along with two blocks and one steal.
Manu Anabo added 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Nigerian center OJ Ojarikre chipped in five points and 13 rebounds, along with two blocks and one steal.
The Soaring Falcons aim to halt their two-game skid in a crucial matchup against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday, November 16, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Scores:
NU (66) – Figueroa 13, Parks 10, Francisco 9, Jumamoy 8, John 7, Manansala 5, Garcia 4, Palacielo 4, Padrones 2, Dela Cruz 2, Enriquez 2, Tulabut 0.
AdU (65) – Montebon 20, Manzano 12, Anabo 11, Torres 7, Ojarikre 5, Fransman 3, Jaymalin 3, Perez 2, Demisana 2, Erolon 0, Medina 0, Tumaneng 0, Cañete 0, A. Ronzone 0.
Quarterscores: 18-14, 31-30, 40-48, 66-65
