SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – The NU Bulldogs kicked off their UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball campaign with a 77-70 win over the UE Red Warriors at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, October 2.
John Lloyd Clemente led the balanced attack with a 15-point outing on 5-of-11 shooting and 2-of-4 from three, while Season 82 high school MVP Jake Figueroa backstopped the effort with a near double-double of 13 points and 9 rebounds with 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Patrick Yu also scored 13 on a 4-of-6 clip, while foreign student-athlete Omar John added 5 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.
Coming off a 15-point deficit, 9-24, late in the first quarter, and a 12-point hole at the half, 32-44, UE climbed all the way back to striking distance in the third, and even took a momentary 52-51 lead off a Gani Stevens layup with 52.1 seconds left in the frame to cap off a 20-7 fightback.
However, that would be the last time the Red Warriors relished the advantage as a late Clemente response from mid-range to end the third ignited a pivotal 16-3 charge through the final frame, ending with a Yu layup with 4:10 left in regulation for the 67-55 gap.
UE only got as near as 10, 60-70, before Figueroa sealed the deal with a mid-range dagger at the 1:34 mark for the 72-60 advantage.
“It’s a good win for us, but we still have a lot to work on. Tomorrow, it’s back to the drawing board. We will review what lapses we have to correct,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa in Filipino.
Kyle Paranada led all scorers in the loss with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting with 5 assists, a game-high 5 steals, and 3 boards, while Fil-Am big man Luis Villegas stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
NU faces mighty Ateneo next on Wednesday, October 5, 6:30 pm, at the PhilSports Arena, while UE kicks off the quadruple-header slate at 11 am against FEU.
The Scores
NU 77 – Clemente 15, Figueroa 13, Yu 13, Malonzo 10, Manansala 9, Baclaan 8, John 5, Minerva 3, Mahinay 1, Galinato 0, Padrones 0, Tibayan 0, Palacielo 0, Tulabut 0.
UE 70 – K. Paranada 17, Villegas 15, Sawat 7, Stevens 6, N. Paranada 6, Antiporda 6, Payawal 5, Tulabut 4, Alcantara 2, Remogat 2, Pagsanjan 0, Guevarra 0, Abatayo 0, Lingo-Lingo 0.
Quarters: 24-11, 44-32, 53-52, 77-70.
– Rappler.com
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