No. 1 NU has F4 bonus at fingertips
Already in the playoffs, National University is working on the next target.
The Bulldogs are looking to wrap up a coveted twice-to-beat advantage and moved a step closer to achieving that, scraping past Far Eastern University, 70-64, on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.
National U notched its 10th win in 12 games and held on to the top seed, and is looking to ride its current wave of success heading into the Final Four.
“We’re still not that satisfied because we know we’re about to enter the last stretch,” coach Jeff Napa said.
“We really have a lot of challenges and we try to explain those to the players. If we want to reach that next stage, we have to do everything right.”
The Bulldogs overturned a one-point deficit with a 9-1 run and took a 67-60 lead in the final 2:22 to hand the Tamaraws their seventh defeat in 11 games.
Jedric Daa tried to keep FEU breathing after a three-pointer 14 seconds later, but Jake Figueroa sank a triple of his own to keep the Tamaraws at bay, 70-64, with 1:18 remaining.
Figueroa scored a game-high 17 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block. PJ Palacielo helped the cause with 10 points and four rebounds to follow up from their win over Adamson last Saturday.
