Mighty bite
Bulldogs rough up Archers, secure F4 playoff slot
REINHARD Jumamoy fires 21 points in National University’s 84-80 win over La Salle on Sunday as the Final Four race intensifies in the UAAP Season 89 basketball tournament.
Photograph by Joey Sanchez Mendoza for DAILY TRIBUNE
Games on Wednesday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2:30 p.m. — UST vs UE
5 p.m. — Adamson vs Ateneo
National University (NU) had enough fuel left in its tank to beat defending champion De La Salle University in a battle of spurts, 84-80, and secure at least a playoff for a Final Four berth in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Reinhard Jumamoy anchored the Bulldogs’ fourth-quarter surge while Paul Francisco and PJ Palacielo delivered the finishing touches in a satisfying payback over their season-opening tormentor.
With only three semifinals berths left after league-leading University of the Philippines reserved the first seat, NU’s second straight victory and 8-3 win-loss record guaranteed the squad a Final Four playoff.
Jumamoy, a top Most Valuable Player contender, poured in 14 of his 21 points in the payoff period, powering NU’s 26-19 fourth-quarter rally.
“Congratulations to Reinhard because he’s been off through the past games. He hurt his shoulder before, so at least hats off to him for carrying the team. They didn’t give up until the end even after La Salle got the momentum,” Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa said.
The guard scored and assisted in NU’s 8-0 run to take a 77-70 lead with 4:01 left in the payoff period after a deep triple from Jumamoy.
However, the Green Archers quickly erased the deficit as Earl Abadam, Doy Dungo, and the returning Jacob Cortez orchestrated a 10-2 run to reclaim the lead, 80-79, with 2:01 left.
Francisco, who had struggled all game with a 1-of-9 shooting clip and had missed his first seven attempts from beyond the arc, came through when it mattered most, knocking down a triple from the right corner with 50.2 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs an 82-80 lead.
Dungo missed badly on his three-point attempt on the Green Archers possession.
The Bulldogs then had a couple of chances to put the game away, but Mo Diassana and Tebol Garcia missed their shots. Fortunately, NU retained possession following a scramble for the loose ball with 4.3 seconds remaining.
Palacielo was sent to the foul line and secured the victory after nailing both his free throws.
Jumamoy also had five rebounds, four steals and six assists for NU. Diassana scored 19 and pulled down eight rebounds while Palacielo added 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals as the Bulldogs avenged an 89-87 first-round loss to the Green Archers.
La Salle saw its three-game winning streak snapped for its first loss in the second round and dropped to a 6-5 slate solo fourth.