THE Filoil Flying V Premier Cup has an eerie feel to it if you are the National University (NU) Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs started the summer tournament like a house on fire by winning three straight. Since then, they have gone 0-3, the latest an 86-82 setback at the hands of the San Sebastian Stags on Monday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
In University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 79, NU opened with two impressive wins over UE and Ateneo before losing two straight. They finished the first round with a 4-3 record before going on a tailspin in the second round, where they won only one more match to end with a 5-9 record. That was good for fifth but way outside the Final Four.
The Stags and Bulldogs battled through seven lead changes and one deadlock. NU looked good in the third period when it took a 10-point lead, 59-49, after a Dave Yu basket.
San Sebastian’s Regille Ilagan hit a triple that ignited an 11-2 run that saw the Stags come within a point after three periods, 61-60.
San Sebastian started the fourth period with six straight points to seize the lead for good.
Consecutive turnovers by the Bulldogs saw Stags point guard Ryan Costelo drill two successive triples that ignited a killer 13-1 run to seize control, 79-68, with 4:22 left in the game.
NU mounted one last-ditch rally but they ran out of time.
Michael Calisaan led San Sebastian with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Ryan Costelo, in his best game of the summer, scored 16 points to go with four assists.
JJ Alejandro led NU with 20 points with Ghanaian center Issa Gaye adding 14 points and eight rebounds.
“It’s good preparation that we’re starting to win. This means the team is running. Hopefully the boys could sustain their energy,” said San Sebastian Head Coach Egay Macaraya of his team’s strong preseason showing.
The Bulldogs of new Head Coach Jamike Jarin this season are much like last year’s squad under Eric Altamirano—a young team bereft of many veterans. Some new faces on last year’s squad aren’t there—JV Gallego, Joshua Sinclair, Mohammad Salim and Michael Pate. Sinclair and Gallego are out with injuries.
The only holdovers at NU are Dave Yu, Matt Salem, Rev Diputado, JJ Alejandro, Chino Mosqueda, Reggie Morido, Tzaddy Rangel, Nico Abatayo, Kins Go and Matt Aquino. Yu, Diputado and Alejandro are all that is left from the UAAP champions of three years ago.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza