NATIONAL University rookie playmaker Tebol Garcia drove hard to the basket in a fastbreak attack midway through the fourth quarter yesterday.
University of the Philippines’ interior defense showed up just in time to prevent an easy layup. The Fighting Maroons, however, failed to foil a wide-open Patrick Yu who boomed in a three-pointer that gave the Bulldogs a 60-35 spread with 6:43 to go.
Bolstered by a fiery start it sustained throughout, NU stunned UP with an emphatic 67-47 victory for its third win and stayed alive in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Bulldogs coach Jeff Napa finally heaved a big sigh of relief after his charges scored a maiden triumph in the second round that improved their mark to 3-8 in a tie with Ateneo.
“Finally, nakuha namin iyong panalo namin sa second round. Finally, at least sa araw ng patay, nabuhay lahat ng mga player ko,” Napa said. “Kahit paano they delivered kung ano iyong kailangan naming gawin then they really enjoyed kung ano iyong ginagawa namin talaga.
“So, give credit to the boys, sa players ko, talagang sila iyong nagtrabaho, hindi naman ako,” he added.
The Maroons slipped to 9-2—a win could have clinched for them a twice-to-beat advantage.
Earlier, Far Eastern University turned back University of the East 59-51 to boost its semifinals bid.
Yu torched the Maroons with five triples and wound up with 17 points and two assists while Jake Figueroa chipped in 11 markers, six rebounds, and four dimes.
PJ Palacielo and Gelo Santiago also combined for 17 as the Bulldogs rebounded from a 58-74 loss at the hands of the Red Warriors last Oct. 26.
NU also redeemed itself from a 62-89 whipping to UP when they first met last Sept. 18.
“This is what I felt we’re going to be in the second round. This is the team I expect from us. We’ve been practicing so amazingly the past two weeks,” Tamaraws tactician Sean Chambers said.
“Unfortunately, and I don’t want to make an excuse, but this is an excuse, we all came down with an illness.”
Veejay Pre notched 20 points and grabbed eight boards for FEU while Jorick Bautista added 12 markers and eight caroms.
The win allowed the Tams to rise to 4-7 for joint-fifth with Adamson University.
Aldous Torculas was the lone bright spot for UP with 13 points.