National University rose to the solo second place in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Behind the Bulldogs’ perfect week was the steady presence of Jake Figueroa.
Figueroa, a former Adamson Baby Falcon, thus earned the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Men’s Player of the Week honor for the period October 9 to 15.
After falling to the league-leader UP, Figueroa served as the driving force in NU’s 87-69 drubbing of the UST Growling Tigers last Wednesday and the 80-77 overtime victory over the streaking De La Salle Green Archers on Sunday.
He averaged 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steal in two games to help the Bulldogs jump to 4-1 behind the unbeaten Fighting Maroons (5-0).
Figueroa edged out FEU’s L-Jay Gonzales, UP’s Harold Alarcon, La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao, and Adamson’s Ced Manzano for the weekly citation presented by San Miguel Corporation and backed by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Jockey.
With NU trailing La Salle by three in regulation, Figueroa hit a booming corner three with about 12 seconds remaining to tie the game and force overtime, where the Bulldogs took over.
“Para sa akin, sumunod lang kami sa pinaghandaan namin, sa game plan namin, and sinundan ko lang kung anong binigay na role sa akin ni coach Jeff kaya ganun lumabas yung laro ko,” said Figueroa after delivering 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 37 minutes against La Salle.
“Lumabas ulit ‘yung ‘Mighty Thor’ [ni Figueroa,] kasi wala akong masasabi dito. Thirty-seven minutes, kumbaga, nagsasabi lang siya na magpapahinga lang siya ng isang minuto tapos babalik siya ulit,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa of the former UAAP Boys’ MVP.
Figueroa and NU, on the other hand, seek to maintain their solo second place when they battle the UE Red Warriors also on Wednesday at the MOA Arena.
