The National University Bulldogs ended the four-game winning streak of the De La Salle University Green Archers, 75-67, in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament at SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Trailing most of the time, the Green Archers trimmed the Bulldogs’ lead to five, 64-69, after Jacob Cortez and Mike Phillips sank three free throws. However, Steve Nash Enriquez answered with a three-point shot to extend the lead back to eight, 72-64.

“It’s about how we perform every game. It’s about how we put effort [into] every game. It’s how we improve every game. Good thing everybody stepped up doon sa absence ng isa (Gelo Santiago) kaya nakuha namin itong panalo,” said Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa.

Santiago is serving his five-game suspension after a disqualifying foul in their 66-50 win against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.

Enriquez led National University with 16 points, while Paul Francisco finished with 14 points. Omar John added 12 points and eight rebounds.

For the Green Archers, Jacob Cortez led the team with 16 points, while Earl Abadam contributed 13 points. Mike Phillips finished the match with a double-double performance of 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Luis Pablo added 10 points and five rebounds.

Later that day, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws outgunned the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 73-70, to improve in the rankings.

In the dying seconds of overtime, Janrey Pasaol made two free throws to give his team a breather, 72-70. Kirby Mongcopa rebounded the ball from a missed three-point shot from Mathew Montebon, which led to being fouled by Cedrick Manzano.

Mongcopa split his free throws, giving them a three-point lead, 73-70. Ray Allen Torres tried to tie the game and force another overtime, but missed his three-point shot.

“I’m sorry we’re late because I kind of scolded the group because we played great basketball for three quarters and in the fourth we showed a little bit of immaturity. For three quarters, I thought we were phenomenal and then the fourth we just kind of went blank on that and had ill-advised turnovers down the stretch to put the game into overtime,” said Tamaraws head coach Sean Chambers.

Jorick Bautista led the Tamaraws with 12 points, while Mongcopa delivered a monster double-double performance of 11 points and 17 rebounds, with four assists. Rojan Montemayor finished the game with 11 points, while Pasaol almost had a triple-double of 10 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.

For the Soaring Falcons, Torres scored 24 points, while Manzano tallied a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.

1/3

Part of the Bullpups dynasty before the pandemic, Steve Nash Enriquez was only one of the three homegrown talents of the National University to stay home as teammates Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, and Harold Alarcon took their talents somewhere else.

Now leading the Bulldogs, Enriquez’s only goal was to win the championship for their head coach, Jeff Napa, who himself was an alumnus of the same basketball program.

“Sobrang eager kasi alam ko ‘yun ‘yung gusto niya na goal and ‘yun ‘yung gusto ko na goal,” Enriquez told Tiebreaker Times. “Bilang tatay ko, si Coach Jeff kasi parang tatay ko na, gusto ko ibigay sa kanya ‘yung goal niya which is goal din namin lahat – the championship. Gusto ko lang i-enjoy na kasama sila and ibigay ‘yung best ko na ma-lead ko sila katulong si Coach Jeff.”

“Gusto ko lang na as a leader, gusto ko palagi sila kausapin individually para on the same page kami.”

11,17

In their victory against the surging Adamson University Soaring Falcons, it was Kirby Mongcopa who scored and defended the Falcons to secure another victory as they make a push for the Final Four.

It was Mongcopa who blocked Mathew Montebon’s three in the dying seconds of overtime, which sealed their victory. Mongcopa finished the match with a double-double performance of 11 points and 17 rebounds, against no other than Cedrick Manzano.

“Si Manzano pa katapat ko, sobrang bigat nun. Sobrang grabe niya din maglaro. Sobrang bilib din ako kay Cedrick Manzano kasi siya ba naman kabantayan ko. Ang laki ng respeto ko sa kanya. Naglaro lang ako nang tama at ginagawa ko lang nang tama ‘yung pinapagawa ni Coach Sean sa akin,” he said.

15

Bobby Mark Parks only played 15 minutes on the court, but he delivered a performance that viewers cannot find in numbers. Parks, the younger brother of former Bulldogs player Bobby Ray Parks, finished the match with seven points and two rebounds.

However, what he did was not quantifiable as he stepped up in the absence of Gelo Santiago.

“We did our part. We played our roles. We stepped up. Those who came on the court stepped up and did what they’re supposed to do. I just stepped up. I wasn’t thinking much when I stepped on the court,” he said.

“The coaches and the players know what I could do. I just stepped up and did what I was supposed to do for Gelo as well.”

Although he’s standing up for Santiago, Parks wants him to know that he should learn his lesson now.

“I just hope he learned his lesson, of course. We just stepped up and did our part for him as well. It’s for him as well. He knows his mistakes. We just tried to help him and contribute today.”