National University (NU) battled through thirty-five turnovers, a hot game from the league’s best point guard, and a losing streak to end the elimination period as the Bulldogs ousted University of the East (UE), 51-49, in the playoff for the last UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball Final Four ticket on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
African center Alfred Aroga sank two tie-breaking free throws with twelve seconds left, drawing a foul from UE’s Charles Mammie in his layup attempt.
Aroga’s shot came off a nifty baseline pass from Nico Javelona, who stepped up in the absence of starting point guard Gelo Alolino, who fouled out with 2:35 left in the game.
“That was the biggest play of our season. It’s good that he [Javelona] made that inbound pass… Those were two big free throws for us,” said NU’s coach Eric Altamirano.
With the win, NU is set to face top-seeded Ateneo de Manila University, a team they beat four times in their last four outings since Season 76.
To enter the finals, the Bulldogs have to beat the Blue Eagles twice.
“Coming into this game, we are not thinking about this one game, we’re thinking about three games. We are thinking of entering the finals,” Altamirano said.
The Bulldogs, led by the graduating Glenn Khobuntin with 12 points and six boards, started flat footed as UE, using its well-know fullcourt press, surged to a 9-0 start.
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NU however paced the game, shutting down the shaded lane as the Red Warriors settled for jumpers which they missed.
The Bulldogs further tightened its defense in the next quarter and employed a running game for a strong 8-3 finish, marked by fastbreak layups from Khobuntin and Troy Rosario, to end the half at 26-21.
In the third quarter, NU thrived on inside shots and limited UE to only ten points to extend their lead at 38-31.
The Bulldogs even extended their lead to as high as nine in the fourth quarter as Khobuntin sizzled for six points.
However, the entry of Roi Sumang gave a flicker of hope for the Red Warriors as the leading scorer and passer of UE took matters in his own hands, firing 13 points, including six straight points off a three-point play and a three-pointer, en route to the last minute.
Down 48-49, UE power forward Chris Javier drew a foul from Aroga on a putback play. Javier tied the game by splitting his freebies for a 49-49 tie.
Javier’s heroic effort though was spoiled as teammate Paul Varilla travelled when he got the defensive rebound off a missed jumper from Jess Diputado.
In the ensuing inbound play, Javelona issued a quick inbound pass from the baseline to a cutting Aroga, who jumped right away for the layup against a napping Mammie.
After the two made free throws from Aroga, UE went to Sumang in the inbound play but the star guard was met by a pressuring double team. He was forced to pass the ball to a waiting Pedrito Galanza who pulled a three-pointer for the win, but the shot came short. It was Galanza’s thirteenth miss in the game.
“That last play was designed for Galanza, with Sumang playing as decoy. But it was not meant for us,” said UE’s head coach Derrick Pumaren after the game.
UE, coming in the game with a five-game winning streak, was led by Sumang, who exploded for 19 points with four steals.
The Red Warriors has missed the Final Four for the fifth straight season after making it to the finals in 2009.
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Box scores:
NU 51 – Khobuntin 12, Rosario 9, Aroga 7, Alolino 7, Javelona 6, Betayene 4, Alejandro 3, Perez 2, Diputado 1, Celda 0, Neypes 0
UE 49 – Sumang 19, Galanza 9, Mammie 8, Varilla 5, Javier 5, Arafat 2, Guiang 1, Alberto 0, Olayon 0, Jumao-as 0, Palma 0, de Leon 0
Quarter scores: 15-14, 26-21, 38-31, 51-49
