Bulldogs end Blue Eagles' unbeaten run
National U head coach Eric Altamirano considered this one “a big test of character for us” and the Bulldogs willingly responded to the challenge.
Rediscovering their form just in time, the Bulldogs grounded the erstwhile soaring Blue Eagles of Ateneo on Saturday night, carving out a stunning 64-60 victory to get back on track in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Smarting from a painful 55-57 defeat inflicted by defending champion La Salle last Wednesday, National U kept in step with Ateneo most of the way then turned up the heat in the crunch behind backup guards Rev Diputado and Paolo Javelona, who combined for six of the team’s final nine points.
Aside from improving to 3-1, NU also stopped Ateneo’s three-game winning streak, leaving host University of the East (2-0) as the lone unbeaten squad in the eight-team field.
Diputado, a rookie, and Javelona combined for 16 points apiece for the Bulldogs, who also got big numbers from the likes of Troy Rosario (team-high 16 points), Alfred Aroga (nine markers and 11 rebounds) and veteran forward Glenn Khobuntin (eight points and a game-high 16 rebounds).
Rookie sensation Arvin Tolentino led all scorers with 17 points but ace guard Kiefer Ravena struggled against the Bulldogs ‘ stymieing defense that held him down to just 13 points on a nightmarish 3-of-20 shooting from the field, highlighted by seven misses tries from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs, raring to bounce back from a stinging loss, jumped to an early 15-8 lead before the Blue Eagles countered with a 13-2 run for an four-point lead midway in the second period.
With Tolentino doing the damage, Ateneo even took a 43-41 cushion but NU buckled down defensively and countered back with an 11-2 bridging the final two quarters for a 5seven-point lead.
Ateneo, despite a sub-par performance from Ravena, found ways to inch closer, even pulling within 56-57 off Fonzo Gotladera’s outback with 1:46 left to play.
Although the momentum seemed to be on the side of the Blue Eagles, the Bulldogs were unfazed as they wisely planned their attacks and often got fouled by their rivals that helped them unload five unanswered points from the charity stripe of a 62-56 cushion going to the last 30 seconds.
The Main Men: With starting playmaker Gelo Alolino struggling to get his rhythm, reserve guards Paolo Javelona and Rev Diputado proved their worth as they anchored the Bulldogs’ methodical windup against the Blue Eagles.
Honorable Mentions: Putting the clamps down in the lane for the Bulldogs were forwards Troy Rosario, Glenn Khobuntin and Alfred Aroga.
Game Turning Point: After Ateneo’s Fonozo Gotladera made a putback off a Kiefer Ravena miss that pulled them within 56-57 inside the final two minutes, the Bulldogs defied the pressure as they canned ample freebies while forcing timely defensive stops.
He Said It:
National U coach Eric Altamirano: I’m very proud of our boys especially ‘yung bench namin. Tulad ng sinabi ko before the start of the season, ‘yung identity ng team namin is not really relying on a one person but really more of a collective effort. Ngayon ipinakita ‘yun ng nila Diputado at Javelona.
The scores:
NU (64) — Rosario 16, Diputado 10, Aroga 9, Khobuntin 8, Alolino 6, Javelona 6, Betayene 4, Atangan 2, Celda 2, Alejandro 1, Neypes 0.
Ateneo (60) — Tolentino, A. 17, Ravena, K. 13, Gotladera 7, Pessumal 7, Elorde 6, Newsome 6, Porter 2, Lim 2, Capacio 0, Babilonia 0.
Quarterscores: 15-15; 33-31; 49-43; 64-60.
