FOR the first time in 12 years, National U will end eliminations as one of the top two teams in the Final Four.
That's after the Bulldogs hurdled a feisty challenge from lowly University of the East, 83-74, on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum to secure the first twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament.
NU turned it on in the second half, crawling back from an 18-point hole, 53-35, by staging a 20-4 barrage to get to within two, 57-55, after a Jolo Manansala bucket at the 1:50 mark of the third period.
"Yung first half, unusual. Akala siguro ng players namin na 'di na maglalaro yung UE," lamented coach Jeff Napa of that lackadaisical first half for his wards. "But UE played their way. Kami, masyadong relaxed."
That only set the gold-and-blue up for a furious fourth quarter where they clamped the Red Warriors down on defense and zoomed with a 19-2 assault capped off by a Jake Figueroa fastbreak to make it a 75-63 affair with 2:55 to go.
Manansala scored eight of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, on top of three rebounds, three assists, and three blocks, as Omar John nabbed a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards to aid the Bulldogs' ascent to an 11-2 record after this fifth straight W.
MVP frontrunner Figueroa was as potent as always, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, Paul Francisco nailed three treys for his 12, and PJ Palacielo imposed his will down low with 11 points off the bench.
Bulldogs brand of basketball back just in time
As has been the case for Figueroa and Co., they weren't spared from the mentor's tongue-lashing - and that seemingly woke up them up from the doldrums they were in.
"Pagpasok namin sa dugout, simple lang ang sinabi ko sa kanila, 'Yan ba yung level up na gusto niyong i-perform papasok sa playoffs?' If you want to succeed sa next level, kailangan na nilang ipakita yung next level nila," shared Napa. "Buti na lang in the next 20 minutes, tinurn on nila yung sarili nila."
UE, still winless after 13 games in this tournament, was condemned to its 19th straight defeat since last year - already the third-worst losing skid in the Final Four era just behind Adamson from 2000 to 2002 (35 games) and the University of the Philippines from 2013 to 2014 (27 games).
Precious Momowei, who has been in every single one of those defeats, corralled 14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and one block in another losing cause.
Rookie Kristoper Lagat top-scored for the Red Warriors with 17 points, fellow neophyte Dylan Despi nabbed 11 points, seven assists, five steals, and two rebounds, and DJ Jimenez got 10.
The Scores:
NU 83 - Manansala 21, Figueroa 14, John 14, Francisco 12, Palacielo 11, Enriquez 5, Parks 4, Tulabut 2, Garcia 0, Jumamoy 0, Dela Cruz 0, Padrones 0, Navarro 0, Reyes 0, Solomon 0.
UE 74 - Lagat 17, Momowei 14, Despi 11, Jimenez 10, Lingolingo 9, Datumalim 5, Tanedo 3, Cruz-Dumont 3, Robles 2, Malaga 0, Distrito 0.
Quarters: 17-21, 31-42, 56-61, 83-74.
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