NATIONAL University (NU) downed cellar-dwelling University of Santo Tomas (UST), 67-57, to bool a Final Four ticket in University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball action Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bulldogs won for the fourth straight time to improve with a 9-3 win-loss record and make the postseason for the first time since Season 78 then under coach Eric Altamirano.
“What’s next? We need to train tomorrow. We have to be ready against De La Salle,” NU coach Jeff Napa said. “We have to be ready for our last two games in the second round because the Final Four isn’t our only target.”
Ateneo, meanwhile, beat Far Eastern University (FEU), 71-65, to extend its winning streak to three games and improved to 8-3 won-lost—guaranteeing the Blue Eagles a playoff for a Final Four slot.
“That win was just heart and some decent execution in the fourth quarter,” Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin said. “Up until then, we were pretty bad really in most aspects of the game.”
NU turned things around in the fourth quarter when they erased a 52-54 deficit to lead 64-54 with under two minutes remaining in the game. Steve Nash Enriquez, Omar John, Michael Malonzo and John Lloyd Clemente conspired in that Bulldogs breakaway
Clemente led NU with 19 points and five rebounds while John contributed 12 points. Kean Baclaan had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds and Malonzo had six points, six rebounds, four assists and one steal also for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs forced the Growling Tigers to 15 turnovers, allowing NU to score 14 points. NU also had 16 offensive rebounds and 12 second-chance points compared to UST’s eight and four, respectively.
UST, which played only eight players, dropped to a 1-10 card. Nic Cabanero led the Tigers with 20 points and six rebounds, while Adama Faye had 11 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks.
The Blue Eagles, meanwhile, had to labor in the middle quarters to stave off the stubborn Tamaraws.
They trailed 20-39 at the 2:39 mark of the second quarter but thanks to a Xyrus Torres three, the Blue Eagles uncorked a blistering rally capped by Paul Garcia’s three-pointer for a 56-55 two minutes into the final period.
The Tamaraws refused to wilt with L-Jay Gonzales scoring for a 65-65 with 1:22 remaining in the contest. Angelo Kouame, however, converted two free throws to give Ateneo the lead at 67-65 with a minute remaining.
FEU failed to convert in three possessions, while Forthsky Padrigao and Dave Ildefonso sank four charities to seal the win for Ateneo.
Kouame led Ateneo with 20 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and one block. Padrigao followed with 13 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Ildefonso had eight points, nine rebounds and two assists as well.