By MARK REY MONTEJO
La Salle got back on the winning track after surviving Far Eastern University’s late comeback, 74-72, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila Wednesday, Sept.
Holding an 11-point lead – 66-55 – early in the fourth, the Green Archers looked headed to a runaway win, but their job was far from over as the Tamaraws, led by Janrey Pasaol and Jorick Baustista, fought back ferociously, uncorking an 14-4 run to pull within 70-65.
But Mason Amos and Doy Dungo retaliated swiftly, coming through with clutch baskets to practically seal the deal for the Archers.
With the win, the Archers improved to 2-1, while the Sean Chambers-mentored FEU absorbed its third straight defeat.
But the day belonged to National University.
The Bulldogs proved steadier down the stretch and stopped the UST Tigers, 76-69, for a share of lead with Ateneo – all with 3-0 cards.
With Jake Figueroa at the firing end, the Bulldogs erased a 66-67 deficit after bunching five of his 22 points in that decisive run to take the lead for good, 73-69.
Figueroa highlighted that blitz with a booming triple.
But what did UST is was a terrible turnover by UST rookie Collins Akowe that led to a steal by Omar John.
More impressively, the Bulldogs succeeded in cracking Akowe’s code by limiting the 6-foot-10 Nigerian center to a measly five points.
“The players really worked hard talaga na makuha ‘to. They followed the game plan and they are disciplined to do it,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa. “The effort is there yun naman ang laging sinasabi ko sa kanila.”
Dungo paced La Salle with 17 points, while Amos, Jacob Cortez, and EJ Gollena backstopped him with 14 points each.
Those contributions went pivotal for the Archers after their skipper Mike Phillips struggled offensively with six points, but shone on the other departments with 13 rebounds, nine assists, and one block.
Pasaol led FEU with 25 points along with five rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block, while Mo Konateh and Kirby Mongcopa conspired for 27 points. Bautista, for his part, had 10.
