MANILA, Philippines — The NU Bulldogs successfully avenged their first round loss against the FEU Tamaraws with a 71-60 win in their second round meeting in UAAP Season 85 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
NU erased a 19-point deficit with a huge 20-0 scoring run in the third and fourth quarters.
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"We're lucky enough to come back from down 19 points. At least hind bumitaw 'yung mga bata ng second half. Tinarbaho nila unti-unti. At least nakabalik kami, nakuha namin ang momentum. We did it our way." said NU head coach Jeff Napa.
The Tamaraws were ahead 52-37 with 4:22 left in the third salvo before the Bulldogs uncorked a scoring burst punctuated by a Kean Baclaan basket to take the lead, 57-52, early in the fourth period.
Though the Tamaraws tried to salvage the game as they got themselves within six, 60-66, off splits at the line from Pat Tchuente and Bryan Sajonia.
But John Lloyd Clemente nailed a dagger 3-pointer to put NU nine points clear, 69-60, with 36.9 ticks left to complete the comeback.
Player of the Game Patrick Yu assisted on the Clemente basket as he finished with 15 points, three rebounds and six assists. Jolo Manansala contributed 12 markers.
NU thus kept hold of second place in the standings with a 7-3 slate while FEU saw an end to their four-game winning streak and fell to 4-6.
The scores:
NU 71 -- Yu 15, Manansala 12, Clemente 11, Figueroa 10, Baclaan 7, Palacielo 6, John 2, Malonzo 2, Minerva 2, Padrones 2, Tibayan 2, Enriquez 0, Galinato 0, Mahinay 0.
FEU 60 -- Sajonia 27, Torres 10, Sleat 9, Tchuente 8, Tempra 5, Sandagon 1, Alforque 0, Anonuevo 0, Bautista 0, Bagunu 0, Celzo 0.
Quarters: 15-20, 26-38, 48-52, 71-60.