Bulldogs nip Tamaraws to grab solo lead

MANILA, Philippines -- National University grinded out a 69-65 victory over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws to finish the first round of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on a high Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. 

With the win, the Bulldogs are currently on top of the standings with a 5-2 win-loss slate. 

While they share the same record with University of the Philippines, they get the tiebreaker after NU won over the Fighting Maroons earlier in the round. 

Mac Alfanta powered the Bulldogs with 14 points, two rebounds and an assist, while PJ Palacielo and Tebol Garcia had 13 points apiece. 

Reinhard Jumamoy added 12 markers. 

The Bulldogs trailed by nine, 45-54, in the third quarter after free throws by Cabs Cabonilas. 

But an 18-4 run capped by back-to-back transition layups off the steal by Garcia pushed NU ahead, 63-58, with 6:34 to go. 

Jorick Bautista then strung together seven straight points to push FEU ahead anew, 65-63, with 4:45 remaining, but it turned out to be the final buckets of the Tamaraws. 

An alley-oop slam finish by Mo Diassana, followed by back-to-back jumpers by Alfanta and Palacielo, gave NU the 49-45 lead with 1:53 left. 

The Bulldogs then bared their fangs and tightened up on defense as they prevented FEU from scoring in the ballgame. 

Paul Francisco added 10 points and three for the winning team. 

Cabonilas shone off the bench for the Tamaraws with 14 points, five rebounds and an assist. Janrey Pasaol and Mo Konateh added 10 points apiece, with the former dishing out six assists, and the latter hauling down 15 boards and swatting away four shots. 

FEU dropped to 4-3.