MANILA – Wello Lingolingo delivered timely conversions as University of the East Red Warriors defeated National University Bulldogs, 57-51, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball on Saturday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Holding to a slim 50-49 lead with exactly a minute left, Lingolingo knocked down a corner three-pointer to extend the Red Warriors’ advantage to 53-49 with 41.4 seconds left.
The Bulldogs managed to cut the deficit to 51-53 on a steal and a basket by Jolo Manansala, but the Red Warriors got two free throws each from Lingolingo and Ethan Galang to seal the victory.
Lingolingo finished the game with eight points, on 2-of-7 shooting, to go with five rebounds as the Red Warriors notched their third consecutive victory to improve to a 3-2 win-loss slate.
Rookie John Abate top-scored for the Red Warriors with 15 points and six rebounds, while Precious Momowei was held to just five points but collared 20 rebounds and dished out three assists.
Steve Nash Enriquez tallied nine points to lead the Bulldogs, Manansala, Reinhard Jumamoy, and Kenshin Padrones ended with eight apiece as they dropped to a 1-5 win-loss card.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons overcame a flat start to defeat Adamson University Falcons, 69-57, and stretch their unbeaten record to five games.
Down by as many as 22 points at 9-31, the Fighting Maroons slowly clawed their way back to take a 51-46 advantage in the third quarter via three three-point conversions from Terrence Fortea.
The Fighting Maroons continued their run in the fourth quarter courtesy of inside conversions from Quentin Millora-Brown as their lead grew to 16 markers late in the game.
Bacolodnon Harold Alarcon led the way for the Fighting Maroons with 14 points, while Fortea and Millora-Brown added 13 and 11, respectively. The Falcons dropped to a 3-3 win-loss card./PN
