The UE Red Warriors claim three straight wins for the first time in a decade as they hold off a struggling NU Bulldogs side
MANILA, Philippines – They’re on a roll.
For the first time since 2014, the UE Red Warriors won three straight games, claiming the NU Bulldogs as their latest victim, 57-51, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, September 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
John Abate supplied 15 points and 6 rebounds, while Wello Lingolingo scored 5 of his 8 points down the stretch to help UE achieve a 3-2 record.
Lingolingo swished a three off a dribble handoff pass by Precious Momowei to put his team up, 53-49, with 41.4 second to go, sending the sizable UE crowd to a frenzy.
Moments later, Lingolingo sank two pressure-packed free throws to hike the Red Warriors’ advantage to 55-51, with 14 ticks left.
“It felt good, since I wasn’t able to hit my shots earlier in the game,” Lingolingo said.
“[NU’s] defense was tight against me, I’m just grateful that I hit my shots during the most crucial part of the game,” he added.
In a game that featured four ties and six lead changes, no team went up by double digits.
UE’s win put it currently at fourth, just behind UP (5-0), La Salle (4-1), and UST (3-1).
As the team has not sniffed a playoff appearance since it reached the finals in 2009, UE head coach Jack Santiago is starting to see character improvement from his players.
“I still consider my boys young, I have many young players,” said Santiago.
“I’m so happy that the boys are starting to have that winning character and allayed my fears of complacency after a huge win against the defending champion.”
NU — which lost all its five games in the clutch — now sits at seventh with a 1-5 record, just ahead of winless FEU (0-5).
The Bulldogs endured a terrible shooting night, making only 16-of-64 from the field.
Steve Nash Enriquez led NU’s offense with 9 points, while Jolo Manansala, Ken Padrones, and Reinhard Jumamoy tallied 8 markers apiece.
The Scores
UE 57 – Abate 15, Lingolingo 8, Galang 7, Wilson 6, Maga 6, Momowei 5, Fikes 5, J. Cruz-Dumont 3, Malaga 2, Go 0, Robles 0, Mulingtapang 0, Spandonis 0.
NU 51 – Enriquez 9, Manansala 8, Jumamoy 8, Padrones 8, Lim 6, Figueroa 4, Francisco 3, Santiago 3, Palacielo 2, Yu 0, Perciano 0, Garcia 0, Tulabut 0, Dela Cruz 0, Parks 0.
Quarters: 10-15, 30-35, 44-43, 57-51.
– Rappler.com
