NU caps men's basketball season with champion upset

c/o UAAP

National University feels at home at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Ten days after dominating the UP Fighting Maroons at the same venue, the also-ran Bulldogs shocked the top-seeded De La Salle Green Archers, 63-54, to close their UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball campaign on a high note on Wednesday.

This victory allowed NU to finish its season with a 5-9 record, winning three in its final four games. The Bulldogs are also the lone team this season to beat the Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons, who will enter the semifinals 1-2 with twice-to-beat incentives.

“So happy sa mga players talaga na binigay nila yung best nila up to the last. See you next year. Ganon kasimple. Definitely, and hopefully, maging healthy kami talaga next year para at least maganda yung magiging performance namin,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa.

NU got the job done this time to end La Salle’s nine-game winning streak, unlike in its first-round encounter where the defending champion escaped, 78-75, in a game where Malian slotman Mo Diassana went down with a season-ending knee injury.

Nigerian slotman Henry Agunanne put the Green Archers on his back down 42-51 midway through the fourth, scoring six in their 8-2 run to cut their deficit within three, 50-53 with 4:38 left.

However, Jake Figueroa and PJ Palacielo linked up for an 8-2 response to put the game away with 1:13 remaining, 61-52.

“Hindi kami nakapasok ng Final Four pero nakita ko buong season yung potential. Masaya rin ako kahit although, hindi kami nakapasok ng Final Four, pero yung remaining games namin ngayong second round, ginawa namin nang maayos at tinapos namin nang maayos,” said Palacielo, who had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Figueroa added 14 points and three rebounds, while Tebol Garcia chimed in eight points, all scored in the first half where the Bulldogs won, 38-32.

Patrick Yu and Donn Lim have played their final game in a Bulldogs uniform.

La Salle will enter the Final Four with a 12-2 record, losing only to NU and University of the East.

The Bulldogs held reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao to a poor 3-of-17 shooting from the field for just six points although he contributed seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal in his 31 minutes and 11 seconds on the floor.

Phillips led the way for the Green Archers with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Raven Gonzales added nine points and nine rebounds.

Agunanne had his best outing for La Salle so far, making eight points and 15 rebounds.

The Scores:

NU 63 - Palacielo 16, Figueroa 14, Garcia 8, Manansala 6, Enriquez 5, Padrones 5, Jumamoy 3, Yu 3, Dela Cruz 2, Lim 1, Santiago 0, Tulabut 0, Francisco 0, Parks 0.

DLSU 54 - Phillips 18, Gonzales 9, Agunanne 8, Quiambao 6, Ramiro 4, David 3, Macalalag 2, Gollena 2, Dungo 1, Marasigan 1, Konov 0, Austria 0, Alian 0.

Quarterscores: 17-17, 38-32, 47-39, 63-54.