NO more overtimes needed.
National U got down to business in the second half and dispatched Ateneo, 66-50, Sunday in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
Jake Figueroa went to work in the last two frames, where he unfurled 13 of his 17 points, along with 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block for the Bulldogs.
He was the catalyst in NU's strong 14-0 windup in the third period to overturn the game from a 40-32 deficit to a 46-40 lead before sharing the spotlight with the rest of his crew to earn the bounce back win.
Reinhard Jumamoy, coming back from a shoulder contusion, tallied eight points and three boards, while Jolo Manansala also got eight and four, as they delivered the finishing touches that gave NU a commanding 15-point advantage, 64-49, in the last 68 seconds.
Top Bulldogs
It's a sweet repeat for the Bulldogs who needed extra time to pull off a 71-66 win over the Blue Eagles eight days prior.
But what made this victory all the more important is that it reinstates the Jhocson side's position as pace-setter in this wild and wooly tourney with its 7-2 record on the heels of a bitter 78-74 loss to the University of the Philippines last Wednesday.
"Nag-respond sila sa nangyari sa amin sa UP," said Jeff Napa, happy with the performance of his backcourt that allowed NU to recover midway through the third.
"Even though we're down, our guys stayed composed and stayed sharp. Pinakita nila yung leadership nila. Given na si Jake Figueroa, so sabi ko sa kanila, I need someone to step up sa leadership para ma-stabilize sila sa loob ng court."
Behind them, the Fighting Maroons are entangled with University of Santo Tomas and La Salle at the second to fourth spots with similar 5-3 records.
On the flipside, Ateneo's downward spiral continued, as it went down to its fifth straight defeat, its worst skid under coach Tab Baldwin, after a dream 4-0 start.
Kymani Ladi paced the Blue Eagles with 12 points, two rebounds, and two blocks, while Andrew Bongo got nine points and nine boards in the defeat.
The Scores:
NU 66 - Figueroa 17, Jumamoy 8, Manansala 8, Enriquez 8, Palacielo 7, John 6, Padrones 5, Francisco 5, Dela Cruz 2, Garcia 0, Parks 0, Santiago 0, Tulabut 0.
ATENEO 50 - Ladi 12, Bongo 9, Escobar 6, Espinosa 5, Tuano 4, Lazaro 4, Espina 3, Fjellvang 3, Lazo 2, Bahay 2, Nieto 0, Gamber 0.
Quarters: 15-19, 30-30, 46-40, 66-50.
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