NATIONAL U caught the second bus to the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball Final Four after powering through upset-seeking University of the East, 91-74, on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
While the Red Warriors put together a strong first 30 minutes, the Bulldogs found another gear when it mattered most, clamping down on defense and allowing just eight points in the fourth quarter.
Tebol Garcia and Reinhard Jumamoy then had all the answers on offense, as the blue-and-gold slammed the door with a 21-4 finishing kick to turn a tight contest into a 17-point victory.
“’Di namin deserve 'tong panalo na ‘to. We played terribly nu’ng first to third quarter. Hats off sa UE, deserve nila ‘yung performance na binigay nila sa’min,” head coach Jeff Napa lamented, ever the perfectionist even after they punched their ticket to the postseason.
Garcia caught fire for 20 points on a red-hot 9-of-10 shooting clip, while also dishing out seven assists.
PJ Palacielo added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, as Jumamoy chipped in 11 points despite a rough night from the field.
NU consistency
The victory sends NU to the semifinals for the fourth time in the last five seasons, another marker of the program's sustained place among the league's elite.
A year ago, the Bulldogs topped the elimination round and carried a twice-to-beat advantage into the Final Four, where it then lost back-to-back games to eventual champion La Salle.
This time, they get another shot at making their regular season work count. With a playoff berth now in their pocket, they can turn their attention to an even bigger prize: positioning themselves for a twice-to-beat advantage.
Toper Lagat again carried the fight for UE with 21 points, but the Red Warriors absorbed their 12th loss out of 13 games.
The Scores:
NU 91 — Garcia 20, Palacielo 13, Jumamoy 11, Diassana 9, Cartel 8, Miranda 7, Padrones 7, Alfanta 7, Reyes 5, Francisco 2, Solomon 2, Laconsay 0, Serrano 0, Perciano 0, Figueroa 0.
UE 74 — Lagat 21, Jimenez 13, Tanedo 12, Vazquez 9, Robles 6, Cruz-Dumont 6, Sabroso 4, Mascarinas 3, Carillo 0, Edoukou 0, Santos 0.
Quarters: 26-22, 50-46, 68-66, 91-74.
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