National University's Mark Parks. UAAP Media
MANILA — National University is the first school to secure a Final Four berth in UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament.
This, as the Bulldogs escaped Adamson University, 66-65, gaining its ninth win in 11 games on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
It was a semifinals return for the Bulldogs, after missing out on the playoffs last year in Season 87.
In a thrilling finish, Mark Parks came through with the go-ahead three-point play with 10.9 seconds left, capitalizing on a fastbreak while the Soaring Falcons scrambled for the defense.
READ: UAAP: Alter's breakout game powers UP past UE for 8th win
Parks drew the foul on John Erolon, as his layup knotted the match at 65-apiece, and then calmly sank the free throw for the narrow 66-65 lead.
With a lot of time on the other side, coach Nash Racela tried to draw a play that could have granted them the lead, but as their possession played out, Monty Montebon missed on his step-back trey attempt.
After he drew a duty foul on Montebon, NU's Nash Enriquez completely missed his trip to the line with 1.3 seconds on the clock, but didn't really matter as the Adamson side could not pull off a shot from the other side, marking NU's triumph.
"Siguro 'yung basketball gods lang, bliness lang kami, despite na we played a bad game," expressed coach Jeff Napa during the postgame press conference.
When the dust settled, Parks had 10 points and three rebounds, while Jake Figueroa finished with 13 points, although on a 5-of-14 percentage, to go with six assists and four rebounds.
Omar John guarded the boards with 10 rebounds and had seven points, as Paul Francisco made his presence felt with nine markers.
On the other hand, the Soaring Falcons slipped to 5-6, but are still in the running for a Final Four placement. Montebon had a match-high 20 points and five rebounds, as Cedrick Manzano and Emmanuel Anabo had 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
NU aims to boost its bid for a twice-to-beat bonus against FEU, while Adamson eyes a return to the win column versus University of the Philippines.
RELATED VIDEO: