The NU Bulldogs outlasted FEU Tamaraws, 69-65, in a grind-it-out battle on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym to claim the top spot at the end of the first round of the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Bulldogs finished the first round at 5-2, tied with the UP Fighting Maroons, but took the No. 1 spot via the winner-over-the-other rule. The Tamaraws, on the other hand, suffered their second straight loss to end the round at 4-3.
NU head coach Jeff Napa hopes the ranking pushes his team to be more consistent when the second round begins on Wednesday. “It was our game nung second half. Nung first half, we gave up too many possessions sa kalaban… ‘Yun ang mindset namin na winners set standards. ‘Yun ang kailangan naming ma-address para, coming into second round, maging consistent pa rin kami,” said Napa.
“At least kahit papaano ‘yung mga players pinu-prove sa mga doubters na kaya nilang makipag-compete,” he added.
Defense Decides It for NU
FEU led, 25-22, after the first quarter and 47-39 at the break, but NU turned things around in the third to take a 59-58 lead. The Bulldogs then pushed it to 63-58 early in the fourth before Jorick Bautista, who had missed his first nine shots of the game, suddenly caught fire. He scored seven straight points to give the Tamaraws a 65-63 lead with 4:47 left.
That would be FEU’s last field goal. Mo Diassana answered with a thunderous jam off a perfectly timed lob from Reinhard Jumamoy to tie it. Mac Alfanta then hit a mid-range jumper at the 2:24 mark, and PJ Palacielo followed with a hook shot with 1:53 remaining. The Tamaraws missed all six shots they took in the final 4:47 and committed three turnovers.
Who Stood Out?
NU’s attack was balanced. Alfanta led with 14 points, Palacielo had 13 points and 8rebounds, and Tebol Garcia also chipped in 13. Jumamoy was all over the place with 12 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while Paul Francisco added 10. Diassana scored just seven points but grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots.
Rookie Cabs Cabonilas paced FEU with 14 points and 5 rebounds. Reigning MVP Janrey Pasaol added 10 points and 6 assists but shot just 2-of-11. Mo Konateh was a one-man crew with 10 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks as Kirby Mongcopa was held to 2 second-half points, finishing with 9 on 4-of-9 shooting.
FEU is now tied with the UST Growling Tigers for third place, alongside the Adamson Soaring Falcons. The Tamaraws will try to bounce back from two straight defeats when they take on Adamson on Saturday, October 24, at the Blue Eagle Gym. Earlier that day, also in the same venue, the Bulldogs will look to stay hot as they face the struggling Ateneo Blue Eagles.
