The National University (NU) Bulldogs put an end to the unbeaten start of the Ateneo Blue Eagles as they prevailed, 64-60, in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
With the victory, NU tied its victims at the top of the standings as the two teams now share similar 3-1 (win-loss) records.
Troy Rosario led the Bulldogs with 16 points and eight rebounds including the game-clinching free throw that pegged the final tally with 11 ticks left in the game.
Former Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) ace guard Adven Jess Diputado also contributed significant figures with 10 points in just 19 minutes of action.
A former member of the Cesafi Mythical Five in the juniors division, Diputado had a crucial reverse layup and a free throw down the stretch that gave NU the cushion it needed to put away the Eagles.
Ateneo suffered from the miserable shooting of chief gunner Kiefer Ravena, who went 3-of-19 from the field and managed just 12 markers.
UST PREVAILS
Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers won over the Adamson Soaring Falcons by the skin of their teeth, 50-49, for their second win in three matches.
Forward Kent Lao split his charities with 1.1 seconds remaining to give the Tigers the close win.
Adamson had a shot at snatching the victory but their alley-oop play for Jansen Rios was foiled at the final buzzer.
The last play typified UST’s fantastic defensive stand down the stretch as it held the Falcons to a mere four points in the fourth period, the second-lowest total in a period in the last decade after NU scored just three points in a 40-60 loss to La Salle in 2004.