UAAP: NU pulls away from UST, seals Final 4 spot | ABS-CBN

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UAAP: NU pulls away from UST, seals Final 4 spot

UAAP: NU pulls away from UST, seals Final 4 spot

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Nov 20, 2022 05:11 PM PHT

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The National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) battle during the second round of the UAAP season 85 men
The National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) battle during the second round of the UAAP season 85 men's basketball in Pasay City on November 20, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) - National University has clinched a spot in the Final 4 of UAAP Season 85, after pulling away for an 67-57 victory over University of Santo Tomas on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs used a backbreaking 12-0 run in the final quarter to run what had been a close game into a relatively comfortable victory -- their fourth straight triumph of the men's basketball tournament. Veteran John Lloyd Clemente spearheaded the charge for NU, with 19 points and five rebounds.

National U improved to 9-3 to become the second team to secure a Final 4 berth, joining defending champion University of the Philippines. The Bulldogs remain in the hunt for a twice-to-beat advantage as well.

On the other hand, the Growling Tigers fell to a tenth straight loss and are now formally eliminated from the semifinals race. They dropped to 1-10 in the tournament.

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"Bad win for us," said NU coach Jeff Napa, whose team got off to a flat start and trailed by as much as 11 points. "But still, naka-survive kami sa UST. Wala ng pressure ang UST, so they played their hearts out and talaga binigyan kami ng problema."

"Good thing, in the second half, we came back. Naka-regroup kami, at nakuha namin ang panalo," he added.

UST had a 36-25 lead midway through the second quarter and were still ahead, 36-29, at the break. But they were limited to just eight points in the third period as the Bulldogs made their move after a shaky opener.

The Tigers managed to go toe-to-toe with NU until the 6:08 mark of the fourth quarter, when JC Garing's layup gave them a 54-52 lead. But a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Steve Nash Enriquez gave the lead back to the Bulldogs, and UST had no answer from that point.

Enriquez's triple sparked a 12-0 flurry for NU, capped by a Clemente three-pointer that gave the Bulldogs a 10-point spread, 64-54, with under two minutes to play.

The Tigers didn't help their cause by committing a series of turnovers; their last meaningful basket was a triple by Nic Cabanero with 32.4 seconds to go that trimmed the lead to seven points, 64-57. But Paul Manalang was called for a technical foul in the ensuing play for continuous complaining, and Clemente nailed three free throws down the stretch to secure NU's victory.

"We have to be ready for our last two games of the second round," Napa said of his team as he stressed that they have yet to reach their goal for the season. "Hindi lang naman Final 4 ang tina-target namin dito."

Omar John contributed 12 points and Kean Baclaan added 10 points and six assists in the NU win. The Bulldogs scored 14 points off UST's 15 turnovers in the game, while turning their 16 offensive rebounds to 12 second chance points.

Cabanero had 20 points for UST, though he shot just 8-of-18 from the field. Adama Faye had an 11-point, 15-rebound double-double to go along with three blocks. No other UST player scored in double-digits, however.

The Scores:

NU 67 -- Clemente 19, John 12, Baclaan 10, Malonzo 6, Manansala 6, Figueroa 4, Palacielo 4, Enriquez 3, Galinato 3, Yu 0, Mahinay 0, Tibayan 0, Padrones 0, Minerva 0.

UST 57 -- Cabanero 20, Faye 11, Pangilinan 8, Garing 6, Calimag 5, Manaytay 4, Duremdes 3, Manalang 0.

Quarters: 11-20, 29-36, 46-44, 67-57.

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