AND on its sixth game, National University finally rose.
The Bulldogs drubbed the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, finally ending their heartaches with a 61-39 victory on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 82 men's basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.
Dave Ildefonso buoyed a 14-6 start as everything went NU’s way in the first half, taking a 22-point spread by halftime, 35-13.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 29 points, 44-15, before L-Jay Gonzales got the Tamaraws within 18 in the third frame, 49-31.
NU held on as FEU shot a horrid 19 percent from the field.
Ildefonso led the Bulldogs with 20 points and eight rebounds to improve to a 1-5 win-loss record.
"Papa-albularyo ako. I can't believe this. We could be easily 5-1 or 4-2 at this point, but we stayed the course and we were gifted with a win," said NU coach Jamike Jarin. NU had lost three of its first four games by one point, with the other going to overtime.
It was a team effort for the Bulldogs, with Migs Oczon adding nine points and seven rebounds, Shaun Ildefonso notching eight points, six boards and two steals, and Issa Gaye holding the fort down low with seven points, 13 rebounds and one block.
Barkley Ebona led FEU with 17 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out with 3:12 left to play.
The Tamaraws continued their unstable campaign, falling to their second straight defeat for a 2-4 record.
The scores:
NU 61 - D. Ildefonso 20, Oczon 9, S. Ildefonso 8, Gaye 7, Clemente 6, Gallego 3, Joson 3, Yu 3, Mosqueda 2, Diputado 0, Galinato 0, Malonzo 0, Mangayao 0, Minerva 0, Rangel 0, Tibayan 0.
FEU 39 - Ebona 17, Stockton 7, Nunag 5, Gonzales 4, Bienes 2, Comboy 2, Tempra 2, Alforque 0, Bayquin 0, Cani 0, Celzo 0, Mantua 0, Tchuente 0, Torres 0, Tuffin 0.
Quarterscores: 14-6; 37-13; 47-24; 61-39.
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