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National University (NU) fought back by playing its best defense of the season, outlasting Far Eastern University (FEU), 62-47, in Game 2 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 77 men’s basketball finals at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs stymied the Tamaraws from the get go, with season Most Improved Player Troy Rosario muscling his way in with inside stabs and putbacks while former Letran Squires phenom Glenn Khobuntin scored on penetrations.
“I think this is the start of our finals,” said Rosario, who finished the game with 19 points and 14 rebounds, nine of which coming from the offensive end.
After an open jumper from Raymar Jose, FEU failed to sink a field goal in the first quarter until the two minute mark, when Mac Belo shot a triple for a six-point team output in the quarter.
NU revved up its defense in the second quarter and extended their lead to 22-6 after a long two from Rosario. The Tamaraws retaliated as the back court tandem of Mike Tolomia and Achie Inigo sank their outside shots for an 18-26 deficit.
The Bulldogs then went back to their gameplan in the third quarter as they shut down all of FEU’s players except Belo, who scored on one-on-one baskets.
NU benefited from this as they limited the Tamaraws to only 12 points in the quarter, zooming to a 43-30 lead.
The Tamaraws took one last stand in the fourth quarter but were limited to one-on-one baskets from Belo and Tolomia as they trimmed the Bulldogs’ deficit to 44-50.
Unfazed, the Bulldogs maintained composure amidst their enemy’s run as Gelo Alolino, shooting an awful one-of-ten from within the three-point arc, sank an open triple from the side for a 53-44 balloon in the last two minutes.
Alolino’s triple came off from NU’s ball movement as Rosario issued a difficult crosscourt pass to Nico Javelona, who then made a nifty pass to Alolino.
Alolino then followed up his triple with another one, a pull-up against Inigo with one second to go in the shotclock, which proved to be the dagger against the Tamaraws.
“Our offense needed ball movement because we don’t really have that go-to scorer. We really clicked because of my teammates,” Rosario commented.
Game three will commence at 4:00 pm on October 15, with both teams gunning for their respective school history.
The last time NU won a men’s basketball championship was in 1954, while FEU will aim for its 20th championship banner and their first since 2005.
