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| c/o UAAP |
UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Standings
NU 3-0
Ateneo 3-0
UST 2-1
DLSU 2-1
AdU 1-2
UP 1-2
FEU 0-3
UE 0-3
Games on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion
7:30 a.m. – UE vs UST (16U)
9:30 a.m. – UPIS vs NUNS (16U)
11:30 a.m. – UE vs UST (Women)
1:30 p.m. – UE vs UST (Men)
4:30 p.m. – UP vs NU (Men)
7 p.m. – UP vs NU (Women)
National University effectively stopped Collins Akowe to outlast University of Santo Tomas in its home floor, the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, 76-69, and stay spotless in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Wednesday.
The Bulldogs, well-aware of the former NU Nazareth School foreign student-athlete play, limited Akowe to just a season-low five points on 1-of-7 shooting from the field and eight rebounds.
Prior to this, Akowe averaged 24.5 points and 18.0 rebounds in the Growling Tigers’ 2-0 start with big wins against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and the De La Salle University Green Archers - the last two seasons’ finalists.
“The players really worked hard talaga na makuha ito… Happy for our guys na talagang they followed the game plan. They are disciplined to do it, the effort is there yun naman ang laging sinasabi ko sa kanila,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa as they are now leveled with idle Ateneo de Manila University at 3-0 atop the standings.
(“The players really worked hard to get this… I’m happy for our guys because they really followed the game plan. They are disciplined enough to do it, the effort is there—that’s what I always tell them.")
Jake Figueroa, meanwhile, made the shots that counted the most for the Bulldogs to tilt the game to their side.
With UST up by a point, Gelo Santiago came through with a layup before Figueroa made it a three-point lead for NU with a step-back jumper, 70-67 with 1:52 left.
Nic Cabañero retaliated for the Growling Tigers to inch within a point, 69-70, but Figueroa seized the moment again with a booming three-pointer with 38.2 seconds remaining that served as the dagger that came after a UST turnover.
The Growling Tigers could not execute on the other end that spelled doom in the end.
“Tinake advantage ko lang ‘yung binigay na responsibilidad ni coach na ‘yun nga, kumbaga kailangan kong akuin so ayun kahit papaano pumapasok naman,” said Figueroa, who had 22 points, including nine in the fourth period, while also grabbing nine rebounds.
(“I just took advantage of the responsibility that coach gave me—basically, it was something I had to own—so I did my part and it worked out somehow.")
Gambian center Omar John also outplayed Akowe for NU, registering 10 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, three assists, and two steals
On the other hand, UST’s dream start came to an end, dropping to 2-1, tied with La Salle at third.
Cabañero paced the Growling Tigers with 19 points on an 8-of-19 clip from the field while Amiel Acido erupted for a career-high 18 points in the defeat.
Mark Llemit also contributed 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, and a block while Forthsky Padrigao got 10 points and six assists.
Both teams will be back on Saturday with NU clashing with UP at 4:30 p.m. while UST aims to bounce back at 1:30 p.m. against winless University of the East, still at the QPav.
The Scores:
NU (76) – Figueroa 22, John 10, Palacielo 10, Garcia 9, Enriquez 7, Francisco 5, Santiago 4, Parks 3, Manansala 2, Jumamoy 2, Dela Cruz 2, Padrones 0, Solomon 0, Tulabut 0, Navarro 0.
UST (69) – Cabañero 19, Acido 18, Llemit 12, Padrigao 10, Akowe 5, Buenaflor 3, Crisostomo 2, Estacio 0, Danting 0, Paranada 0, Laure 0, Calum 0.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 40-43, 58-61, 76-69.
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