National University leaned on a fourth-quarter explosion from Reinhard Jumamoy and a clutch three-pointer from Paul Francisco to overcome De La Salle University, 84-80, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Bulldogs improved to 8-3 to remain in second place and secure at least a playoff for a Final Four spot with three games remaining in the elimination round.
Jumamoy took over in the payoff period, scoring 14 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter. Francisco, meanwhile, made up for a 1-of-9 shooting performance by drilling a crucial triple from the right corner with 50.2 seconds remaining to give NU an 82-80 lead.
La Salle, meanwhile, suffered its first loss of the second round, snapping a three-game winning streak and dropping to 6-5 in solo fourth. The Green Archers remain a full game ahead of fifth-running Ateneo de Manila University (5-6).
Green Archers’ main guard Jacob Cortez also made his return after missing the team’s last two games due to swelling in his right knee.
