Bite force: Bulldogs rip Tigers to shreds
Games on Wednesday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2:30 p.m. — UE vs FEU
5 p.m. — UP vs Adamson
National University (NU) didn’t need a game-winning shot in overtime this time.
Offensive rebounding that led to second-chance opportunities played a crucial role in the Bulldogs’ 75-71 win over University of Santo Tomas (UST) in their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament rematch on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Protecting a three-point advantage in the last 6.2 seconds, PJ Palacielo grabbed the offensive board off his own freethrow miss and returned to the foul line for a split to put the Growling Tigers away and get back into the thick of the race for a Final Four seat.
NU kept the UST without a field goal for six minutes in the fourth quarter while creating enough breathing room to cushion the Tigers’ desperate fightback in the last two minutes.
The Bulldogs completed an elimination head-to-head sweep of the Espana-based squad, which they beat, 87-85, in overtime after Reinhard Jumamoy drilled a banking three-pointer with less than a second left.
NU, this time, beat UST without the need for an extension and a Hail Mary shot to remain in solo second spot with a 7-3 win-loss record, half a game behind league-leading University of the Philippines (7-2).
“It’s a good win for us, definitely. UST is no easy opponent since it’s one of the top contenders,” Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa said.
NU lorded over the boards with 59 rebounds compared to just 29 by the Tigers. The Bulldogs pulled down 28 offensive rebounds, that they converted into 25 second chance points.
Malian big man Mo Diassana dropped monster numbers with 16 points on 11-of-16 field goal shooting and a game-high 19 rebounds before fouling out late in the game to lead NU.
Palacielo scored 14 and pulled down six boards, Kenshin Padrones had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds while Tebol Garcia played an all-around game with 12 markers, seven rebounds and six assists to back Diassana.
“Good thing our effort was there. In this game, despite the foul trouble with our bigs, they played with the right mindset. They embraced the challenge despite being in foul trouble,” Napa said.
“It’s all about the mindset and effort that we give every game. Hopefully, in our next games we’ll get back on the right track for our goal,” he added.
Tied at 57 entering the final period, Andrew Chio and Kristian Porter gave UST a five-point cushion to start the fourth quarter.
NU answered with a 10-0 rally powered by Diassana, Padrones, Garcia and Paul Francisco to reclaim the lead, 67-62.
Diassana gave the Bulldogs a 73-66 advantage with a tomahawk slam dunk off a perfectly timed pick-and-roll pass from Jumamoy with 42.1 seconds remaining.
Landyn Jumawan and Amiel Acido cut UST’s deficit to just two, 73-71, as the Growling Tigers then sent Palacielo to the free-throw line.
He made his first before missing the second but still got the rebound after the scramble with UST forced to send him back to the charity stripe.
The Tigers’ woes continued, losing three straight games in the second round for a 4-6 slate in seventh spot.
Acido had 13 points and five rebounds, while Mark Llemit added 12 points, four assists, and three rebounds for UST.
Chio finished with 11 points while Porter tallied eight points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Collins Akowe struggled to make an impact for the Tigers, finishing with just 11 points on 2-of-7 shooting and five rebounds.