National University (NU) had the worst start of the season for a defending champion team but finally the Bulldogs won its first game in UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball at the expense of the league-leading University of Santo Tomas (UST), 55-54, Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Cameroonian center Alfred Aroga, after three mediocre games, exploded for 19 points, capped off by a high-looping jumper from 19 feet in the last 14 seconds, which proved to be the Bulldogs’ winning shot.
Aroga, averaging a paltry 10 points prior to today’s game, was the only Bulldog in double digits. Erstwhile leading scorer Gelo Alolino as limited to only two points but hauled nine rebounds and dished out nine assists.
The Bulldogs went ahead by as much as eight points in the third quarter until Kevin Ferrer shot back-to-back triples for a 10-0 counterattack, as the Growling Tigers went to the fourth quarter holding a 43-41 lead.
UST then surged to its biggest lead, 52-45, as seldom used Kent Lao and Mario Bonleon joined the scoring fray.
Seemingly losing steam anew, considering that they were fresh from a double overtime loss against Ateneo last Wednesday, the Bulldogs made its last stand with eight straight points off back-to-back layups by Ren Diputado and a twisting layup by Aroga entering the final minute.
Giving up the lead, 52-53, the Growling Tigers went back to life as league leading scorer Ed Daquioag stole the ball from Alolino and converting on a double-pump fastbreak layup with 28 seconds left for his ninth point.
Aroga then went one-on-one against rival Karim Abdul, stepping back to create ample space for a long jumper from the left flank. Not known for shooting from that range, Aroga’s shot swished the net.
The shot proved be the game winner as Ferrer completely missed a layup in the face of Aroga. Alolino then went to the line with three seconds left and missed his two free throws, but UST could only afford a hail mary heave.
The Bulldogs are now at 1-3 while the Tigers, led by Ferrer with 14 points and 11 boards, share the lead with Ateneo at 3-1.
File photo by Martin San Diego
