MANILA – National University Bulldogs came up with clutch baskets in the endgame to score a 78-74 stunner over Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball on Wednesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
After failing to protect a 70-65 lead behind conversions by Blue Eagles’ Bryan Andrade, Jolo Manansala surged the Bulldogs ahead at 74-72 with an inside hit before being widened to 76-72 on split free throws by Kean Baclaan and Michael Malonzo.
The Blue Eagles trimmed the deficit to 74-76 on an inside conversion by Angelo Kouame with five seconds left but the Bulldogs wrapped up the victory on two free throws by Patrick Yu.
Manansala finished the game with career-high 17 points to go with 11 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks as the Bulldogs snapped a two-game losing skid to improve to 6-3 win-loss slate.
Baclaan chipped in 10 markers, four assists and three rebounds, while John Lloyd Clemente contributed nine for the Bulldogs, which also snapped its 13-game losing skid against the Blue Eagles.
Andrade tallied season-best 21 points, Bryson Ballungay added 15 markers and nine rebounds, while Dave Ildefonso had double-double 14 points and 10 boards for the Blue Eagles, which dropped to 5-3.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University Tamaraws rolled to its fourth straight win after a 57-53 escape over De La Salle University Green Archers. The Tamaraws hiked its record to 4-6, while the Green Archers dropped to 3-5.
Down 48-50 midway in the fourth quarter, the Tamaraws went on an 8-0 scoring run behind Jorick Bautista, Xyrus Torres, Cholo Anonuevo and Patrick Tcuente to take a 56-50 lead with 52.9 seconds left.
Cyrus Austria then answered for the Green Archers with a triple with 31.9 ticks to go to cut the deficit to 53-56. He had a chance to tie the score but fumbled the ball in front of Tamaraws’ John Bryan Sajonia before Torres sealed the deal with a free throw.
Torres got 12 points and two steals for the Tamaraws, L-Jay Gonzales had 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists, Sajonia added nine points, five assists, and four rebounds, while Tchuente chimed in with five points, eight rebounds, and four blocks.
BOX SCORE:
NU 78 – Manansala 17, Baclaan 10, Clemente 9, John 8, Malonzo 7, Minerva 6, Enriquez 5, Palacielo 4, Yu 4, Figueroa 3, Galinato 3, Mahinay 2, Tulabut 0, Tibayan 0.
ATENEO 74 – Andrade 21, Ballungay 15, Ildefonso 14, Garcia 6, Koon 4, Lazaro 4, Chiu 3, Gomez 3, Padrigao 2, Kouame 2, Quitevis 0.
Quarterscores: 14-20, 41-29, 56-57, 78-74./PN
