Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) – The National University Bulldogs pulled off an escape win against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 71-69, to open their UAAP Season 84 campaign on a winning note on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bulldogs got some lucky offensive stops in the final minute of the game as rookie Jake Figueroa converted a jumper and veteran big man Issa Gaye scored a put-back for a 71-67 lead.
Adamson guard Jerom Lastimosa was fouled in the next possession and made all his two free-throws for a two-point deficit.
The Soaring Falcons had some chances to win the game but Lastimosa missed his three-pointer, with Tricky Peromingan getting the offensive rebound and getting fouled by the Bulldogs.
Peromingan, however, failed to sink his two opportunities at the charity stripe with 0.9 seconds remaining in the game.
“Although we won the game, pero nung (but in the) fourth quarter nagkaroon ng (we had) poor execution. This is a young team kaya (that’s why) we need to catch up,” NU head coach Jeff Napa said of his squad’s performance in the final seconds of the game.
NU led by as much as 14 points in the third quarter but lost some composure when Adamson staged a scoring rally in the fourth canto.
But a notable performance for the Bulldogs are their bench players who outlasted their Falcons counterparts, 45-17. NU also had a wide edge in fastbreak points, 14-2.
Janjan Felicida, a product of the multi-titled NU high school basketball program, topped his team in scoring with 14 points.
Newcomer Didat Hanapi led Adamson with 20 points while Lastimosa added 18 markers in their sorry defeat.
NU will take on De La Salle University on Tuesday at the 4 p.m. game while Adamson will battle University of the East at the first game in 10 a.m.
The Scores:
NU 71 – Felicilda 14, Minerva 8, Clemente 8, Figueroa 7, Torres 7, Galinato 6, Gaye 6, Mahinay 6, Malonzo 5, Ildefonso 2, Manansala 2, Joson 0, Yu 0, Enriquez 0, Tibayan 0.
Adamson 69 – Hanapi 20, Lastimosa 18, Sabandal 11, Douanga 11, Zaldivar 3, Manzano 2, Yerro 2, Colonia 1, Magbuhos 1, Peromingan 0, Jaymalin 0, Barasi 0, Erolon 0.
Quarterscores: 19-13, 36-28, 52-48, 71-69
