Falcons hobble to all-time low: Measly 25 points in loss to Bulldogs

Games on Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m. – UP vs UST

4 p.m. – DLSU vs AdU

MANILA, Philippines - Breaking the oldest record in the UAAP could’ve been a highlight feat for any team. But this one nobody wanted.

You could see it in the body language of the players inside the court and the pained look of the coach on the bench.

But it did happen as National University dealt the most one-sided contest that led to the all-time low team output for Adamson – a 62-25 decision that at first blush had looked like a typographical error on the scoreboard.

It was such a struggle that it caught the interest of fans rather than the other team’s seizing the solo lead with its fourth win in five games.

The young Falcons had only three points in the first 10 minutes, 11 points at the turn, 17 points with only two minutes left in the third quarter and went on to post a 25-point output to become the second lowest team total since University of the Philippines bowed to Far Eastern University, 19-31, way back in 1946.

The Bulldogs held their hapless rivals to quarterly outputs of 3-8-6-8 – the lowest tally in the modern era – and a measly 16 percent shooting (9-of-57) – the worst marksmanship since UP shot 18.5 percent last year.

With a 4-1 mark, the Bulldogs moved half a game ahead of idle Ateneo (3-1) and Far Eastern U (3-1), which earlier shook off a shaky start before posting a 73-63 triumph over University of the East.

“It was a mix of our defense and their poor shooting. We were watching Adamson’s last two games and they were really shooting well. But today they couldn’t buy a basket and we defended well,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano,

The Bulldogs seized a 19-3 bulge in the first quarter, from which the overmatched Falcons couldn’t recover. Not easing up a bit, the Bulldogs stretched their lead to 39 points (59-20) en route to handing the Falcons (0-4) the dubious distinction of the lowest team score.

“To tell you the truth, we were not talking about that (holding AdU down to record low). Before the game, I told the boys it’s not who we play but how we play so we really focused on how we wanted to play, our fundamentals, and discipline, as we know these are the types of games that will help us during the most important part of the season,” said Altamirano.

NU left nothing to chance especially after coach Kenneth Duremdes’ charges gave UST a scare in a 49-50 loss over the weekend.

“That was our message to the team, we can’t take them (AdU) lightly, we can’t overlook anybody. Even in our scouting report, we made sure we knew the tendency of each player. We were really focused on making sure Adamson won’t be able to get their game going against us,” said the NU mentor, whose team was led by JJ Alejandro’s 13 points and Gelo Alolino and Troy Rosario’s 10 markers each.

Eight players managed to score for AdU, led by Don Trollano’s seven (all in the first half) and Dawn Ochea’s five.

Thrown off by the Warriors’ punishing pressing defense, the Tams fell behind by 13 early on, at 9-22, but eventually got their bearings and picked up their second straight victory and 3-1 overall.

The Warriors dropped to 2-2, failing to bounce back from a 58-60 defeat to La Salle in a previous assignment where they even led by 10 at the start of the fourth.

“We talked about the press of UE and we told the guys ‘Okay, UE’s a pressing team, we acknowledge that and we actually want that so we can attack the basket.’ I think the players executed well today, especially in the second half,” said FEU coach Nash Racela.

The Tams committed a whopping 31 turnovers, resulting in 23 points for UE.

“Our target is not to beat La Salle’s 36 (turnovers against UE); we had 31 today,” Racela said in half jest. “If there’s something we learned from the UE-DLSU game, it’s showing composure. Even if we committed mistakes in the game, what’s important was we still make the right decisions in the endgame, do what we’re supposed to, we’ll be alright.”

Trailing 12-24, the Tams detonated a 19-8 blast sparked by Mac Belo to get back into the game. Already in the groove, they seized a 69-59 cushion going to the last 2:50.

Belo fired a career-high 21 points while Anthony Hargrove shot a new personal-best 14 markers and 12 rebounds for FEU.

Paul Varilla (12) and Bong Galanza (11) led UE in scoring as Roi Sumang struggled with seven, all in the fourth, and Charles Mammie had six against their FEU defenders.

Notes: The double-header featuring University of Santo Tomas versus University of the East and Adamson against Far Eastern U that was called off due to typhoon Glenda last July 16 will played on Aug. 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena, the UAAP announced yesterday.

Notes: The double-header featuring University of Santo Tomas versus University of the East and Adamson against Far Eastern U that was called off due to typhoon Glenda last July 16 will played on Aug. 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena, the UAAP announced yesterday.

The scores:

First Game

FEU 73 – Belo 21, Hargrove 14, Tolomia 13, Cruz 7, Iñigo 7. Pogoy 5, Jose 4, Dennison 2, Escoto 0, Denila 0.

UE 63 – Varilla 12, Galanza 11, Javier 8, Arafat 8, Sumang 7, Mammie 6, Alberto 5, Jumao-as 4, De Leon 2, Olayon 0.

Quarterscores: 12-22, 31-32, 52-49, 73-63.

Second Game:

NU 62 – Alejandro 13, Alolino 10, Rosario 10, Khobuntin 7, Aroga 6, Neypes 3, Cauilan 3, Yu 3, Diputado 2, Javelona 2, Salim 2, Perez 1, Betayene 0, Celda 0, Atangan 0, Tansingco, 0.

AdU 25 – Trollano 7, Ochea 5, Nalos 4, Monteclaro 3, Aquino 2, Baytan 2, Pedrosa 1, Barrera 1, Rios 0, Inigo 0, Villanueva 0, Donahue 0, Butron 0, Garcia 0, Gumtang 0.

Quarterscores: 19-3, 40-11, 56-17, 62-25