LA Salle averted a 14-point collapse as it pulled off an 83-82 nipping of National University on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 82 men's basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kurt Lojera drained the go-ahead baseline jumper with 14.9 seconds as the Green Archers salvaged their first win of the tourney after seeing their 80-66 lead in the final 5:58 dissipate.
Shaun Ildefonso brought the Bulldogs back thanks to a 16-1 run capped off by a booming trey with 28.1 seconds remaining to put his side up, 82-81, before Lojera's heroics late.
Ildefonso still tried to win the game late, but his corner trey missed its mark as time expired on NU.
"It showed in the last quarter that we were rattled," said coach Gian Nazario. "Good thing we were able to push through. Good thing Kurt had that jumper from the corner and it was a good learning experience for us."
Justine Baltazar had a 23-point, 10-rebound, 2-assist, and 2-block performance as La Salle evened its standing at 1-1.
Jamie Malonzo continued his stellar showing with 14 points and 10 boards for the Green Archers, while Aljun Melecio had 10 points and four assists.
The sorry loss sent NU down to a 0-2 hole to stay at the bottom of the barrel.
Ildefonso led the Bulldogs with 26 points, to go with his five steals and two rebounds, as John Lloyd Clemente scored 19.
The scores:
La Salle 83 - Baltazar 23, Malonzo 14, Melecio 10, Caracut 7, Lojera 6, Meeker 6, Serrano 6, Bates 4, Pado 4, Cagulangan 3, Cu 0, Hill 0, Manuel 0.
NU 82 - S. Ildefonso 26, Clemente 19, Gallego 12, Gaye 11, D. Ildefonso 8, Joson 2, Minerva 2, Mosqueda 2, Diputado 0, Galinato 0, Mangayao 0, Oczon 0, Tibayan 0, Yu 0.
Quarterscores: 22-12; 42-32; 67-57; 83-82.
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