Games on Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
8 a.m. – UPIS vs UE (16U)
10 a.m. – UST vs UE (Women)
Noon – AdU vs NU (Women)
2:30 p.m. – UST vs UE (Men)
5 p.m. – AdU vs Ateneo (Men)
7:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs DLSU (Women)
NATIONAL University (NU) got back on reigning champion De La Salle University (DLSU), 84-80, to clinch at least a playoff for a Final Four slot in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Paul Francisco drained the go-ahead triple inside the last minute as the NU Bulldogs avenged their 89-87 defeat to the DLSU Green Archers in the first round to firm up their stronghold of the second seed at 8-3, just behind sure semifinalist University of the Philippines (9-2).
NU, which dealt La Salle its first defeat in the second round after three straight wins, is assured of at least a knockout battle for one of the semifinal slots while staying on course to securing one of the twice-to-beat bonuses.
Mr. Francisco finished with nine points, providing a timely lift for NU that leaned on the eruption of MVP derby leader Reinhard Jumamoy, who scored 14 of his 21 points in the telling payoff period.
That’s more than half of NU’s total of 26 points in the final quarter as La Salle bled for 19, blinking first in the tightrope duel marked by 18 lead changes.
Mo Diassana was also instrumental with 19 points, eight rebounds and two steals while PJ Palacielo, second in MVP race behind his teammate, added 14 points, including the insurance free throws in the last three seconds.
Tebol Garcia and Macmac Alfanta chipped in nine and five points, respectively, for the charges of coach Jeff Napa, looking good for a redemption bid this season after squandering a twice-to-beat edge as the top seed against eventual champion and No. 4 seed La Salle in Season 88.
“Hats off kay Mr. Reinhard kung paano niya dinala ‘yung team. Hindi bumigay ‘yung team sa dulo kahit pa nagka-momentum ‘yung La Salle,”said Mr. Napa.
Like their first duel, NU and La Salle figured in a toe-to-toe war with no teams managing to lead by double digits. The biggest lead by the Green Archers was at five while the Bulldogs had an advantage as big as eight.
And when La Salle was clinging on to a precarious 80-79 lead down the wire, Mr. Francisco came to the rescue and drilled a booming trey in the last 44 seconds off a dime from Mr. Jumamoy. La Salle missed multiple attempts from Doy Dungo and Mason Amos to snatch back the lead.
Mr. Dungo (19), Joaquin Tovera (12), Henry Agunanne (12), JC Macalalag (10) and Earl Abadam (10) had their numbers but Jacob Cortez only had eight in his return from a knee injury.
In women’s basketball, Eli delos Reyes sank the game-winning lay-up as La Salle (2-8) snapped a seven-game skid with an 84-83 stunner on NU (6-4). It’s the first win by the Lady Archers against the Lady Bulldogs since 2022 when they snapped a 108-game streak by the former seven-peat champions. — John Bryan Ulanday
The scores:
NU 84 – Jumamoy 21, Diassana 19, Palacielo 14, Francisco 9, Garcia 9, Alfanta 5, Padrones 4, Laconsay 3, Reyes 0, Cartel 0, Solomon 0.
DLSU 80 – Dungo 19, Tovera 12, Agunanne 12, Macalalag 10, Abadam 10, Cortez 8, Amos 4, Marasigan 3, Gagate 2, Pablo 0, Gomez 0.
Quarterscores: 24-22, 47-42, 58-61, 84-80