National University (NU) created a little buffer on the top spot from the rest of the field as the chase for the Final Four intensified.

Biting harder despite the absence of one key player, the Bulldogs completed an elimination round sweep of De La Salle University, 75-67, for their second straight win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

NU improved its best run in the Final Four era to an 8-2 win-loss record at the solo lead while putting a halt to the Green Archers’ four-game winning run.

A decisive 15-3 run in the second quarter that gave the Bulldogs a comfortable 13-point lead allowed them to take full control of the match.

NU grabbed the victory sans Gelo Santiago, who was serving the first of his five-game suspension for a disqualifying foul he committed in the team’s previous win over Ateneo de Manila University.    

Steve Nash Enriquez, who was scoreless in the Bulldogs’ first round meeting with the Green Archers, finished with 16 points and nailed all four of his three-point attempts, his last being a cold-blooded trey in the final 2:07 of the game to stop a late scare.

“It’s about how we perform every game. It’s how we put an effort every game. It’s how we improve every game. We’re especially missing one player. Good thing everybody stepped up in the absence (of Gelo). That’s how we got this win,” NU coach Jeff Napa said.

Paul Francisco had a personal season-best 14 points before fouling out with under four minutes left in the fourth quarter, center Omar John had 12 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals while Jake Figueroa compensated his quiet five points with eight boards, six steals, six assists and a block for the Bulldogs.

La Salle trimmed its payoff period deficit to just five after Jacob Cortez and Mike Phillips combined for three free throws, 64-69, with 3:05 left in the contest. But Enriquez responded with a booming triple to restore a comfortable 72-64 cushion. 

Mark Parks came up with a huge basket in the last 47 seconds of the game to quell another Green Archers’ uprising that trimmed the Bulldogs’ lead back to just five.

NU broke open a slim 32-31 advantage to a 47-34 gap in a telling blitz capped by Enriquez’s breakaway layup.

The Bulldogs maintained their distance and answered every comeback attempt by the Green Archers.

La Salle, already decimated by season-ending injuries to Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan, lost another man with 4:52 left in the first half following the disqualifying foul on Vhoris Marasigan. 

He was ejected after hitting John with a closed fist in the stomach during a screen.

The Green Archers, whose last loss also came at the hands of NU, slipped to a 6-4 record in third place.

Cortez submitted 16 points, Earl Abadam had 13 markers while Mike Phillips tallied a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds for La Salle, who went 20-of-36 from the foul line.

The scores:

NU (75) — Enriquez 16, Francisco 14, John 12, Parks 7, Figueroa 5, Garcia 5, Manansala 4, Padrones 4, Palacielo 3, Jumamoy 3, Dela Cruz 2, Tulabut 0.

La Salle (67) — Cortez 16, Abadam 14, Phillips 11, Pablo 10, Macalalag 5, Daep 4, Dungo 4, Gollena 2, Marasigan 2, Nwankwo 0, Quines 0.      

Quarters: 22-26, 50-42, 61-54, 75-67.