The NU Bulldogs overturn a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the FEU Tamaraws for their first UAAP Season 87 win.
Janrey Pasaol missed potential game winning free throws, as the NU Bulldogs pulled off an escape act against the FEU Tamaraws for their first win in UAAP Season 87, 62-60, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
Pasaol missed all three free throws after getting fouled on a three-point attempt by NU’s PJ Palacielo with 1.1 left in the ball game, as NU held a slim two-point lead in the dying seconds of the contest.
But before Pasaol’s untimely misses, it was NU’s scorching 15-0 run that turned the tides for the Bulldogs who found themselves trailing as early as the first quarter when the Tamaraws jumped the gun on last year’s podium finishers.
From the get-go, it was all FEU as the Tamaraws took their biggest lead of the contest, 22-5.
By the beginning of the fourth salvo, FEU was still leading by double digits as the Tamaraws pushed their advantage to 13, 57-44.
But that would be the beginning of the end as they wouldn’t be able to score another field goal until the final buzzer.
NU went on a scorching hot 15-0 run capped off by a Donn Lim triple to take the two point advantage, 59-57, with 4:32 ticks remaining in the game.
From then on, it was a close game with the lead changing hands twice more.
A Palacielo bucket put the Bulldogs ahead permanently, 61-60, with 3:03 left. He also had one free throw conversion with 6.4 on the clock to arrive at the final score before fouling Pasaol.
Prior to Palacielo’s free throws, Royce Alforque missed a bucket that would’ve put the FEU Tamaraws ahead by one in the final ten seconds of the game.
After the game, NU head coach Jeff Napa warned his team of starting slow against their foes.
“Number one, syempre 'yung learnings namin dito hindi kami pwede mag-start flat. So 'yun nga 'yung sinasabi ko sa kanila, kailangan paglabas namin 'yung effort namin nandon. So we have to give our effort, 110%, to go all out.” he said.
Napa also confirmed that the Bulldogs will be missing their foreign student athlete Mo Diassana for the rest of the season, as he had a season-ending left knee injury during their opening game against the DLSU Green Archers.
Still, the Bulldogs were able to pull it off with a team win led by Palacielo’s nine points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Player of the Game Jake Figueroa had eight points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one block.
Mo Konateh paced FEU in the losing effort with a double-double of 17 points and 16 boards.
NU now evens its slate at 1-1 as FEU drops to 0-2 for UAAP Season 87.
Both teams play next on Wednesday, September 18, as NU faces off with UP. Meanwhile, the FEU Tamaraws seek their first win of the season against the UE Red Warriors at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.