NU Bulldogs survive UE Red Warriors as La Salle routs UST
Games On Saturday
2 p.m. — UE vs UST
4 p.m. — NU vs DLSU
RED-HOT National University (NU) chewed out a gritty 64-61 win over the University of the East (UE) to stretch its rampage to five straight games and open its second-round action with a bang in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Kean Baclaan once again came to the rescue with a 5-0 run in the clutch punctuated by the go-ahead triple as the Bulldogs weathered a late Red Warriors’ storm after wasting a 14-point lead.
The second-year guard uncorked 18 points, five rebounds and three assists albeit with seven turnovers to headline the timely recovery of NU, which climbed to 7-1 to stay in the Top Two after an impressive first-round campaign.
Jake Figueroa added 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals, including the insurance freethrows as Patrick Yu and PJ Palacielo added nine and seven points, respectively.
The Bulldogs, whose impressive run included big wins against reigning champion Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University in the first round, looked headed to a comfortable win by posting a 14-point gap in the first half only for the Red Warriors to make it a ball game with a searing rally in the third.
UE slowly but surely turned tide by striking to within 48-50 entering the payoff period until Rey Remogat scooped it in transition for a 61-57 lead in the 3:26 mark that, however, proved to be its last stand. Mr. Baclaan converted a jumper then another contested triple to give back the lead to NU, 62-61, as UE fired blanks the rest of the way.
Mr. Figueroa would seal the deal with two freebies in the last 5.3 seconds after Mr. Momowei’s short heave in the previous possession rattled out.
Mr. Remogat flirted with a quadruple-double of 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and eight steals while Precious Momowei dropped a 15-11 double-double for the Red Warriors, who absorbed their fifth straight loss at 2-6.
Earlier, MVP race leader Kevin Quiambao stuffed a 22-12-6-5 line in only 23 minutes as De La Salle (5-3) dealt University of Santo Tomas (1-7) a 110-69 beating.
“The first round gave us a view of where we are as a team. We want to make sure we set the tone right off the bat in the second round. I’m happy that the players responded,” said coach Topex Robinson, who also drew ample coverage from Jonnel Policarpio (14), Raven Cortez (13) and returning ace guard Evan Nelle (11).
In women’s basketball, seven-peat titlist NU (7-1) took down Ateneo (5-3), 84-74, La Salle (3-5) beat Adamson (2-6), 71-61, and Far Easter University (3-5) kept UE winless (0-8), 64-47. — John Bryan Ulanday
The Scores:
First Game
DLSU 100 – Quiambao 22, Policarpio 14, Cortez 13, Nelle 11, Gollena 9, Escandor 6, Macalalag 5, Nwankwo 4, B. Phillips 4, Nonoy 4, Abadam 3, David 3, Austria 2, Manuel 0, I. Phillips 0.
UST 69 – Cabañero 13, Manaytay 10, Moore 9, Duremdes 8, Crisostomo 7, Laure 6, Lazarte 5, Llemit 4, Manalang 4, Ventulan 2, Gesalem 1, Pangilinan 0, Magdangal 0, Esmena 0, Calum 0.
Quarterscores: 29-21, 52-38, 75-49, 100-69.
Second Game
NU 64 – Baclaan 18, Figueroa 12, Yu 9, Palacielo 7, Enriquez 5, Malonzo 4, Lim 3, Manansala 2, John 2, Casinillo 1, Parks 1, Delos Reyes 0, Gulapa 0, Jumamoy 0.
UE 61 – Remogat 18, Momowei 15, Sawat 8, Cruz-Dumont 7, Lingolingo 3, Galang 3, Alcantara 3, Maglupay 2, Tulabut 2, Fikes 0, Spandonis 0, Gilbuena 0, Langit 0.
Quarterscores: 20-12, 38-30, 50-48, 64-61.
