The National University Bulldogs got their act together and finally scored their first win in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.
Dave Ildefonso, scoring better than his previous game, totaled 20 points and had eight rebounds for the Bulldogs in their 61-39 swamping of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Their 22-point win over the Tamaraws is the biggest blowout victory of the season with Migz Oczon providing a crucial nine points for the overall effort.
Shaun Ildefonso added only eight points, but made up for it with six rebounds for NU, which eclipsed the 21-point, 50-71 loss that they suffered at the hands of the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles defied the hot hands of Rey Suerte, and scored slightly better than during their game with the Bulldogs as they won over the University of the East Warriors, 85-68.
Angelo Kouame delivered 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Blue Eagles, who stayed unbeaten after eight encounters.
Rey Suerte unloaded 15 points for the Warriors, who share the same 1-5 slate with the Bulldogs.
NU’s Issa Gaye, who got plenty of minutes under the boards, knocked in seven points and 13 rebounds in helping deliver NU to its first win in six outings.
“They are matured enough. If you see how we played today, we played good team offense and defense,” said NU coach Jamike Jarin.
Oczon led the way for the Bulldogs in the first period, making seven points as NU held FEU to just four points and went on to take a 14-4 edge after the initial 10 minutes of action.
FEU committed 12 turnovers and got held to seven points in the next quarter off NU’s tight watch on both ends of the floor. The Bulldogs went on take a 37-13 edge at halftime.
NU eventually took their biggest lead at 29 points off Dave Ildefonso’s basket from his brother Shaun’s pass in the last 4:10 of the third period.
Barkley Ebona, picking up the slack off a scoreless Pat Chuente, shot 20 points and had eight rebounds for FEU, which now has a 2-4 card.
Ateneo’s William Navarro, who had nine points, had six points during a 14-0 blast that gave Ateneo a 57-40 cushion in the remaining 3:15 of the third.
“They (UE) came out with a good game plan. They have taken note and watched how we play. And they used some counters on our defense and tactics that were effective. Especially in the first half. I was annoyed with the team,” said Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin.
Baldwin commended UE’s big effort to keep up in the first half, and before Ateneo finally asserted itself in the second half.
