In a fitting farewell to their senior players, the also-ran NU Bulldogs topple the league’s top two teams at the end of their campaign, stunning defending champion La Salle over a week after blowing out UP
MANILA, Philippines – It’s as if the NU Bulldogs are practically playing in the comforts of home whenever they compete at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The pride of Jhocson once again toppled a UAAP men’s basketball giant just a few hectic Manila corners away in España, as the seventh-ranked squad earned a 63-54 Season 87-capping upset over the top-ranked La Salle Green Archers on Wednesday, November 13.
PJ Palacielo led the Bulldogs’ last stand with a team-high 16 points to go with 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block in their second straight win on UST grounds after wrecking No. 2 UP in a shocker, 67-47.
Jake Figueroa scored 14 on 6-of-10 shooting as NU ended its up-and-down campaign with a 5-9 record, just a step below Final Four contention in the free-for-all bottom six.
Firing straight out of warm ups with a 9-1 start, the Bulldogs seized essentially full control of the game despite momentarily giving up a 28-27 second-quarter lead to the Archers.
Still leading by 10, 49-39, after a Jolo Manansala euro-step layup with 8:13 left in the fourth, NU stayed unfazed in the face of a last-ditch La Salle fightback, surviving an 11-4 rally and regaining a 6-point lead, 57-51, with 2:24 to play after a pair of acrobatic Figueroa finishes.
Palacielo then put the finishing touches with a pair of mid-range jumpers to put the game away for good in the final minute, 61-52, as a fitting farewell to the Bulldogs’ graduating guard duo of Pat Yu and Donn Lim.
“I’m just really happy for the players, they gave their best up to the last. So, see you next year, it’s that simple,” NU head coach Jeff Napa said in Filipino.
“Hopefully, we get really healthy next year so we can at least have better performance next year.”
Heading to a two-week break before the Final Four, the Archers absorbed their second loss of the elimination round to finish with a 12-2 card, saying goodbye to a league-best nine-game winning streak in the process.
Possible returning Mythical Five candidate Mike Phillips led the losing effort with 18 points and 10 rebounds, backstopped by an encouraging 8-point, 15-board effort from hulking big man Henry Agunanne.
Kevin Quiambao, likely a runaway repeat MVP winner at the season’s end, again fired blanks in the no-bearing loss with 6 points on 3-of-17 shooting to go with 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
He now heads to training camp for Gilas Pilipinas‘ FIBA Asia Cup second qualifying window before returning to the UAAP.
The Scores
NU 63 – Palacielo 16, Figueroa 14, Garcia 8, Manansala 6, Padrones 5, Enriquez 5, Yu 3, Jumamoy 3, Dela Cruz 2, Lim 1, Santiago 0, Tulabut 0, Francisco 0, Parks 0.
La Salle 54 – M. Phillips 18, Gonzales 9, Agunanne 8, Quiambao 6, Ramiro 4, David 3, Macalalag 2, Gollena 2, Marasigan 1, Dungo 1, Austria 0, Konov 0, Alian 0.
Quarters: 17-17, 38-32, 47-39, 63-54.
– Rappler.com
