Rike saves best for last, powers Bulldogs past Warriors

MANILA, Philippines – Troy Rike reserved his best game for National University as he powered the Bulldogs to a 79-71 win over University of the East  in a battle of eliminated teams in Season 81 UAAP men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Rike, a one-and-done case, finished with a career-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting and added 13 rebounds as NU finished its season with a 4-10 win-loss mark.

Issa Gaye, one of the four graduating Bulldogs, also came up big for NU with 12 points and tied his career-high eight blocks.

Alvin Pasaol paced the Red Warriors with 20 points and finished the season with an average of 24.4 per game, the most by a local student-athlete since the league started to computerize the stats in 2003.

The 6-foot-2 forward needed 44 points to break La Salle’s Ben Mbala’s record of 26 points per game but he opted to involve his teammates early in the game.

Pasaol, who has not yet decided if he’ll return next season for the Recto-based team, also grabbed 14 rebounds, issued four assists and had four steals in what could be his final game for UE.

Chris Conner contributed a personal-best of 19 points and 13 rebounds for the rebuilding Red Warriors, who finished last with 1-13 mark under rookie mentor Joe Silva.

Their only win came at the expense of Final Four contender FEU, 90-65.

Aside from Rike and Gaye, other graduating NU players were Matthew Aquino and Jess Diputado.