Bulldogs keep Warriors winless in UAAP 73

After National University suffered heartbreak 76-72 loss to Far Eastern University last week coach Erick Gonzalez made a " slit troat" slide the gesture inside the Bulldogs dugout.

"Kill" is the message Gonzales wanted to convey to his NU crew."Because i want them to killer instinct every game."

The Bulldogs,who are still looking to develop their killing instinct,leaned on a storng start then overcome UE several comeback attempt to hack out a 70-63 win over the Red Warriors in the 73rd UAAP Mens Basketball Tournament on Saturday at Araneta Coliseum.

"We wanted to show that we cant play against(FEU)because they are the title contenders this years,said Gonzalez."Too bad we lost but we moved on and used that motivation for this game."

Behind Rookie Bigmen Glenn Khobunthin and Emmanuel Mbe along with veteran Marvin Boloran,the Sampaloc based squad lead as many as 20 points then saved off UE finals push,led once more by do it all guard Paul Lee,to secure the victory.

NU climbed up to an event 2-2 slate assuring a tie fourth place with the loser of the Atene-La Salle contest that being played as of posting time.

Khobunthin,a price recruit from Letran,had the best game of his young collegiate carrer with 13 points and five rebounds,The forme squire,who also won in several in NCAA medals as shot put thrower,only did it 20 minutes.

Mbe posted his second double double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds ahile Baloran added 11 points and seven rebounds.

It was NU first win against UE for the first time in 14 matches.The last time the Bulldogs defeated the Warriors was September 7,2002when they pulled of a 69-68
victory against the Recto based squad that was led by current PBA superstar James Yap,Ronald Tubid,Paul Artadi,and KG Canaleta.

UE has reached the Final four in each off the next eigth season beating by NU by an average winning margin 11 points.

"I have no idea about that record.I just wanted to win,"said Gonzalez.

NU lead 23-9 at the end of the first period highligthed by Kokoy Horishimma eigth markers.The Bulldog stretched it further to 20,47-27,early in the third quarter and appeared headed for a convincing victory.

But UE scoring due of Paul Lee and James Martinez tried to put the Warriors back in the game when they trimmed the deficit to four,59 55,on Lee tree point play off a foul from Hermosisima with 4:19 left in the game.

Both teams traded baskets with an Erwin Duran lay up again move UE back to four 61-57.

Mbe then scored on a slammed of a missed shot then Jowell Ponferada had his own layup for a sixpoints cushion before the rest of the Bulldogs made five of the last seven points from the foul lane.

"During one game La Salle,we let them make it at threes in the dying seconds,"
Gonzales said,It was the same thing that what happened today.but luckily we made our freethrows."

Lee and Martinez tallied 18 points each for UE,which continued with it worst start in rececnt years.

Lee who had 27 points in a loss to Far Eastern University on Thursday,shots 7of 16 from the field and added seven rebounds,three assist,and three steals,but had eigth turnovers.JVP GMA NEWSTV