THEY’RE still in the race.
Defending champion National University Bulldogs got a big lift from JJay Alejandro to keep alive their flickering hopes of advancing into the Final Four of UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tournament with an 81-73 victory over the La Salle University Green Archers at the Mall of Asia Arena yesterday.
Alejandro exploded for 17 fourth quarter points to tow the Bulldogs to the scrambling victory over the Green Archers. He racked up nine consecutive points, capped by back-to-back triples, as NU forged ahead with a 10-point 68-58 advantage with 5:51 to go in the game.
La Salle’s Jeron Teng then tried to take over the match, as he scored back-to-back field goals on strong moves to the basket as La Salle cut the gap to just six points, 68-62, with 4:06 to play.
The Bulldogs again got some breathing room after a triple by Jeff Javillonar and a three-point play by Alejandro as NU extended its lead to nine points, 71-62, with 3:10 to go.
But the Archers weren’t done yet. Thomas Torres converted a fastbreak layup followed by a field goal by the veteran Teng and the Green Archers threatened again, 71-66, with 2:42 left to play.
The Green Archers crept even closer as Andrei Caracut and Torres each drilled a triple to go with two free throws by Teng to trail by just two points, 75-73, with 44 seconds left to play.
NU big man Alfred Aroga then caught the Green Archers with their pants down. Instead of wasting away the seconds, he drove strong to the hoop immediately after receiving the pass.
Aroga converted the layup and the bonus free throw to seal the outcome of the match, 78-73 with just 40 seconds left to play.
With the victory the Bulldogs (5 wins, 7 losses) stayed in contention for a Final Four berth as they inched closer to the fourth-placed Green Archers (5-6).
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University got a surprise lift from Russel Escoto and Raymar Jose who led powered the Tamaraws to their ninth consecutive victory, a rousing 82-69 demolition of the Adamson University Soaring Falcons.
Instead of usual stars Mac Belo and Chester Tolomia lighting up the scoreboard, the unheralded Escoto and Jose racked up the points to power the Tamaraws to a league-best (10-1) record.
Escoto topscored with 13 points, while Jose added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Tamaraws. Belo and Tolomia didn’t do too badly either with 10 and nine points, respectively.
The victory assured the Tamaraws of at least a playoff for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. The Soaring Falcons (2-9) dropped to the bottom of the standings.