The National University Bulldogs were able to breakaway from the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the third frame that proved to be enough in a 75-64 win to eliminate the Diliman-based squad Thursday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Cedrick Labing-isa and JV Gallego led the Bulldogs with 14 markers each. Labing-isa was 6-for-10 from the field while the rookie from Chiang Kai Shek High School was 5-for-10 from the field and went 4-for-4 from the stripe.
“He’s getting relaxed now but still I did not like his last foul,” NU head coach Eric Altamirano said about Gallego. “Hindi maganda yung ginawa niya na yun. I think we lost discipline in the last three minutes.”
After a tight opening half that saw the Bulldogs hold a 34-28 lead over the Maroons, the Jhocson Street cagers locked down on defense end held their opponents to just two points in the first seven minutes of the third canto. During that span, National U went on a 14-2 run behind the duo of Med Salim and Gallego to gain a 48-30 lead.
“I told the boys to do that we do and continue what we are doing. Eventually, that’s what happened in the third,” Altamirano added. “We focused on our defense and then we made our shots.”
The lead ballooned to a game-high 24 points, 66-42, with 7:23 remaining in the game after a putback by Rev Diputado off an Aquino split. However, the Bulldogs third-stringers lost discipline in the final minute of the game. Jett Manuel took advantage of this in scoring six points in a 10-0 rally to close out the game much to the dismay of the NU coaching staff.
Matt Salem added 12 points for the Bulldogs, nine coming from long distance. Matt Aquino filled the stat sheet with ten markers, five boards, two rejections, and a triple.
For the Maroons, Paul Desiderio scored a game-high 28 markers on 10-for-21 shooting. Manuel scored 12 markers. However, the Bulldogs knocked down eight triples for the game compared to just one for the struggling Maroons that proved to be the difference in the game.
The NU Bulldogs (A, 5-1) will face the Arellano University Chiefs in their last game of the elimination round on Sunday, June 5 at 1:30pm. On the other hand, UP (2-4) play the San Sebastian Golden Stags tomorrow, June 3 at 3:15pm.
The Scores:
NU (75) – Labing-isa 14, Gallego 14, Salem 12, Aquino 10, Morido 4, Mosqueda 4, Salim 4, Diputado 4, Aroga 3, Lastimosa 2, Yu 2, Go 2, Cauilan 0, Rangel 0.
UP (64) – Desiderio 28, Manuel 12, Moralde 8, Webb 6, Harris 4, Romero 4, Tekoudjou 2, Dario 0, Asilum 0, Longa 0.
Quarterscores: 17-8, 34-28, 57-38, 75-64.
