In what could have been their last game of the season, Gelo Alolino towed the NU Bulldogs to yet another victory, this time a 70-68 thriller against the FEU Tamaraws.
Alolino broke a 68-all tie as he hit a short jumper with 39 seconds left to play. FEU had two chances to tie the game, but Mac Belo and Mike Tolomia both missed their shots, with the latter’s attempt going in and out of the basket as time expired.
“Thankful ako na pumasok para sa team. Yun lang nasaisip ko–team. Alfred [Aroga] and Jeff [Javillonar] gave me good screens,” shared Alolino on his game winning shot after the contest.
NU head coach Eric Altamirano quipped, “I’m really thankful that we have Alolino on our team.” He added, “We really talked about having an unwavering faith in the system and each other and they really showed it tonight.”
Alolino scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half and he also added four rebounds and three assists. He was supported by Alfred Aroga who was a force inside and finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The duo of Jeff Javillonar and Reden Celda added nine points apiece.
Mike Tolomia led the charge for the Tamaraws, tallying 23 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Tolomia hit three straight three pointers at one point late in the fourth quarter, but FEU was unable to generate stops on the other end. Monbert Arong scored 10 for the Tamaraws and Russel Escoto added nine. Mac Belo struggled and scored just eight points on three-of-12 shooting.
With the win, the Bulldogs finish the elimination round of UAAP Season 78 with a 7-7 record and currently sit at fourth place. The struggling DLSU Green Archers are right behind them with a 6-7 slate and they face the Tamaraws in the season finale for both teams on November 18. A win by DLSU will force a playoff between the Green Archers and the Bulldogs for the last semifinal ticket.
“We leave it up to God, yung destiny namin is up to that game on Wednesday,” said Altamirano.
FEU, on the other hand, fell to 10-3 on the season and will finish the eliminations as the second seed regardless of the outcome of their game against La Salle. FEU will be equipped with a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four against the ADMU Blue Eagles.
