After 14 games full of side stories that can make up a book, National University is officially in the Final Four.
The Bulldogs broke a decade-long spell, scraping past Far Eastern University, 84-81, in a pulsating overtime thriller in the 75th UAAP men's basketball tournament Sunday at a packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Reigning MVP Bobby Ray Parks scored five of his game-high 27 points in the last 31.4 seconds to help NU come back from a six-point deficit in the extra period and essay just their second entry into the playoffs since 1994.
"This is where we wanna be from the very start of the season," said a visibly relieved Coach Eric Altamirano. "There were a lot of setbacks but I kept reminding the boys that God has a plan for us."
The win sent the Sampaloc-based squad into a triple tie with their victims and De La Salle University at 9-5 but gets into the Final Four with a superior quotient.
"This win is very significant for the NU community," Altamirano added.
After Gryann Mendoza missed a trey that could have won it for the Tamaraws in regulation, Terrence Romeo strung up four straight points as FEU took a 79-73 advantage in overtime.
Emmanuel Mbe, though, started the Bulldogs' fightback, sinking a free throw and putting in a basket that trimmed the lead to three, 79-76.
After NU missed five consecutive attempts from rainbow territory, Mark De Guzman finally drained one to tie it before Parks rifled in another trifecta that rocked the Big Dome and put them up, 82-79.
Ryan Roose Garcia sank two free throws in the ensuing play but Parks iced the game with a couple of freebies of his own with 16.7 ticks remaining.
"Those things (setbacks) happen for a reason," Altamirano shared. "Siguro yung reason is to make us tougher. We never gave up. We just kept coming."
Parks finished with 27 points and nine rebounds while Mbe piled up a sterling performance with 25 markers and 13 boards for the Bulldogs, which shot 57.1% from within the arc.
On the other hand, Romeo wounded up with 25 points on seven-of-19 shooting even as Garcia also posted 13 points and nine boards.
The Tamaraws will face the Green Archers in a playoff for the last Final Four berth on Wednesday, 3:30pm at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
NU, meanwhile, prepares for its much-awaited semifinals showdown with University of Santo Tomas next weekend.
The scores:
NU (84) - Parks 27, Mbe 25, Neypes 7, Alolino 7, Javillonar 6, De Guzman 5, Betayene 5, Singh 2, Villamor 0, Rono 0, Khobuntin 0
FEU (81) - Romeo 25, Garcia 13, Tolomia 10, Hargrove 7, Pogoy 6, Mendoza 5, Escoto 5, Belo 4, Foronda 3, Bringas 3, Cruz 0
Quarters: 23-20, 37-42, 60-55, 73-73, 84-81
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