NU, UP chalk up 2nd win

Bulldogs thwart Tams, Maroons repel warriors

MANILA, Philippines — National U and the University of the Philippines zoomed to joint leadership after contrasting wins in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Bulldogs fended off a late-game uprising by the Far Eastern U Tamaraws, 71-65, as the Fighting Maroons cruised to an 84-69 win over the University of the East Red Warriors for similar 2-0 cards on top of the league.

NU, after humbling reigning champion Ateneo with a 77-64 win last weekend, led by as many as 18 points but needed one last stand to repel FEU in a gritty six-point win behind the efforts of Kean Baclaan.

The 5-foot-8 floor general stood tall against the charging Tamaraws with a near triple-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists plus four steals to spearhead another Bulldogs’ scattered onslaught.

Like their win against the Blue Eagles, a bevy of Bulldogs rose to the occasion with Mike Malonzo (10), Nash Enriquez (9), Omar John (9) and Jake Figueroa (8) manufacturing key support.

“We’re lucky enough to get this win because we really played a bad game. FEU is a dangerous team tulad nga ng sinabi ko sa kanila a few days ago. Lucky for us, we got this win,” said NU coach Jeff Napa as the Bulldogs allowed the Tamaraws to strike within 47-49 in the third quarter.

Earlier, reigning MVP Malick Diouf continued his dominance with 19 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks as UP banked on a searing 32-9 start for its second straight blowout win after clobbering Adamson, 68-51.

In the third game, the Jerom Lastimosa-less Adamson escaped with a 79-76 overtime win over Santo Tomas to barge into the win column after absorbing a 68-51 debut loss to UP.