Warriors book second seat in Final Four

University of the East outgunned National U in the second half and fashioned out a 76-57 rout to gain the second berth in the UAAP Final Four at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium yesterday.

The Warriors pressed their running attack and tightened up on defense in the second half to wear down the Bulldogs for their fourth straight win and seventh in nine games.

They gained a seat in the Final Four, joining first qualifier Ateneo Blue Eagles with a clean 8-0 win-loss slate.

"We know we still have a chance to be No. 1 and we’re still going after it," said UE coach Dindo Pumaren.

In the other game, Santo Tomas leaned on the hot hands of Anthony Espiritu as it repeated over defending champion Far Eastern U, 77-75, to move to third place with a 4-5 slate.

Espiritu stepped up his game in the absence of Jojo Duncil and Jun Cortez, firing a career-high and tournament-best 31 points.

The Tams suffered their second straight loss and sixth in all against four wins.

Bonbon Custodio and Mark Borboran scored 13 points apiece as the two took turns in delivering the goods for the Warriors.

Custodio struck hard in the first half with 11 points while Borboran got his game going in the second, firing six points in the third canto that helped fuel UE’s decisive breakaway.

The Warriors also found a way to contain NU top gun Edwin Asoro, who started hot with eight points in the early goings.

"We forced him out of his comfort zone. That helped us a lot," said Pumaren in stopping Asoro and sending the Bulldogs reeling to their sixth loss against three wins.