Bulldogs rout Tamaraws, 61-39

NU now has a 1-5 win-loss card. #BulldogsRoutTamaraws

DAVE Ildefonso leads NU to its first win of the season. (David John Cubangbang)

National University booked an emphatic 61-39 rout of Far Eastern University (FEU) in Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

They dictated the tempo early on and played like a team fighting for dear life following a string of misfortune that saw them fading in the crucial stretches of their first five games.

Rookie swingman Dave Ildefonso cited their motivation behind this gallant performance.

“Because it’s already shameful,” said Ildefonso following their breakout performance which became extra special when head coach Jamike Jarin invited the entire team for the post-game press conference.

They suffered an 83-84 loss to Adamson following a late-game trey by Lenda Douanga followed by an 82-83 meltdown to De La Salle University and a 79-80 heartbreaker to University of the Philippines.

With that, the Bulldogs, who were said to be one of the strongest teams on paper, slid all the way to the bottom of the standings with a 0-5 win-loss slate.

But a win over the slumping Tamaraws completely changed everything.

“I think it’s time that we get our first win because it’s been five games already and we haven’t won even once. It’s now becoming a little embarrassing for us,” said Ildefonso, who fired 20 points.

“At least we’re no longer buried under the team standings. We’re now at 1-5 and our performance was pretty well today.”

Aside from their high-octane offense and suffocating defense, Ildefonso said the tables have turned and luck was finally on their side.

“I think we just got lucky that FEU was unlucky with its shots,” he said.

“There were a lot of open shots for them that they couldn’t finish because today was not their lucky day.”