MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles averted another endgame meltdown to defeat National University Bulldogs, 70-68, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Holding to a 69-65 lead after a split free throw by Blue Eagles’ Kristian Porter, the Bulldogs made their last push on a three-point conversion from Jolo Manansala to cut the deficit to 68-69.
The Blue Eagles then increased the lead to 70-68 via a split free throw by Ian Espinosa with three seconds remaining in the game before Manansala misfired on a last-second triple try.
Porter finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Blue Eagles, while Jared Bahay and Chris Koon added 12 and 10 markers, respectively, as they improved to a 2-6 win-loss slate.
“Our victory was enough to get us into the finish line in this game. I am very, very satisfied (with the performance) of the players,” Blue Eagles head coach Thomas “Tab” Baldwin said.
“It has been a tough first half of the season, and they start working together, and gotta give credit to them for that. I tried to put a lot of pressure on them because I know we need to get a lot for us to win this season,” he added.
Jake Figueroa tallied a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs, while Manansala contributed 12 markers as they dropped to a similar 2-6 record.
In the other match, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons relied on a huge fourth quarter rampage to take down the pesky University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 83-73.
Francis Lopez led the way for the Fighting Maroons with 20 points, while Fortea contributed 16 markers as they tied De La Salle University Green Archers on top of the standings with a 7-1 record.
Negrense Harold Alarcon added 11 markers, while Millora-Brown made his presence felt inside with 10 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals for the Fighting Maroons, which recovered from their 68-56 loss to the Green Archers last week./PN
