National University survived a perimeter onslaught from Far Eastern University to keep their postseason hopes alive on Wednesday afternoon, 87-84, at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
J-Jay Alejandro and Issa Gaye allowed the Bulldogs to retake the lead for good in the fourth quarter from trailing 81-79 to taking an 86-81 lead. It was part of a 22-2 run that helped erase a 15-point deficit.
Although Ron Dennison converted the Tamaraws' 18th triple of the game with under two minutes left, NU held firm with defensive stops that preserved the lead and the victory.
Alejandro finished with seventeen points, eleven in the final period, while also contributing six rebounds and nine assists. Gaye led the Bulldogs with 24 points and eleven rebounds. They combined to outscore the Tamaraws, 20-12 in the fourth.
Head coach Jamike Jarin was delighted with the team's maturity, acknowledging that this element is something that cannot be fast-tracked. He also hopes that it is not yet too late for this development. Jarin added that even if FEU made their runs in the first and third quarters, the team never bowed down.
Alejandro also shared that the team wanted to give Matt Salem a proper chance to play. The graduating Bulldog missed action recently due to dengue.
The Bulldogs continue their must-win campaign against the University of the Philippines this Saturday, while the Tamaraws still has another chance to snatch the final postseason berth against Adamson that same day. (c/o Kim Karlo Castro)
Note: FEU set the modern UAAP record for threes made in a game with those eighteen makes. Jarin thought NU was playing the Golden State Warriors.
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