Baclaan dominated the Falcons in the second half.
The NU Bulldogs will finish the first round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament with a 6-1 record after escaping the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 69-66, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Saturday.
The Falcons were able to grab an early lead during the first half after hitting consecutive baskets and forcing several turnovers against the Bulldogs.
Come the second half, spitfire point guard Kean Baclaan turned up for NU as he dropped all of his 19 points after intermission, including five three-pointers in the third quarter alone.
Jake Figueroa added 17 points and five rebounds for NU, while Steve Nash Enriquez scored 13 points in the win.
“Sobrang saya kasi nakuha namin 'yung huling panalo namin sa first round, so kailangan namin bawiin 'yung pangit na nilaro namin nung first half,” Baclaan said during the postgame interview. “Binigyan pa rin kami ng tiwala ni Coach Jeff (Napa). Binigay niya samin 'yung buong tiwala para manalo sa laro namin ngayon.”
After another slow start to the game, the Bulldogs got another earful from Napa, and it seemingly worked in their favor as the team turned it around once more after the break.
“Once na nagalit na si Coach Jeff, kailangan na namin gawin 'yung tama, so hindi kami on (the same) page nung first half (pero) pag dating nung second half dun na, lumabas na 'yung NU Bulldogs na dapat na laruin namin,” said Baclaan.
RELATED STORY: Jeff Napa’s wake-up call pushes NU to grab dominating victory over UE
With momentum on their side, the Bulldogs will look to continue their winning ways in the second round of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Falcons, who are still without star point guard Jerom Lastimosa, will look to bounce back after suffering their second straight loss to fall to 3-4 in the standings.
(MDB)