Gelo Santiago was one of the key Bulldogs who rose to the occasion, stepping up in the clutch as NU staged an epic fourth-quarter comeback to stun Adamson in UAAP Season 88.
This time, NU didn’t let the game slip away.
After crumbling in the clutch against the defending champion UP, the Bulldogs showed that lessons were learned — and hearts were tested — in a gritty 56-54 comeback over the Adamson Soaring Falcons to return to the win column of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament.
Down by as many as 11 in the final quarter, NU dug deep, stringing together a riveting 15-2 run that flipped frustration into a gutsy bounce back.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: NU completes gutsy comeback vs Adamson to claim solo second in Season 88 men’s basketball]
“Lesson learned ‘yung nanalo samin sa UP na pagdating ng fourth quarter. Ngayon, naging mas composed and hindi kami basta-basta mag give up,” Gelo Santiago said in the post-game press conference.
Jake Figueroa led the Bulldogs with 17 points, including a go-ahead and-one layup with 52.5 seconds remaining that gave NU a 55-54 lead.
Adamson had its chances to steal the game, but AJ Fransman’s attempt went long, and Cedrick Manzano’s tip-in refused to drop — sealing NU’s gutsy win that put them back in solo second at 4-1, behind unbeaten Ateneo (4-0).
“Kasi galing kami sa talo, gusto namin ipakita na kaya namin mag-bounce back. Luckily, nakakaconvert kami kapag crucial moments,” Figueroa, who finished with 17 points, three assists and three steals spoke.
Earlier, Adamson appeared in full control when OJ Ojarikre scored on a putback to make it 52-41 with 5:33 left to play.
But the Bulldogs had other plans as NU responded with a riveting 11-0 counterpunch to knot the score at 52-all with a layup off a steal at the 2:26 mark.
“Credit sa mga players. Grabe ‘yung depensa namin kahit hindi kami makahulog eh, grabe ‘yung field goal shooting namin. Players na ang nagpanalo nito, hindi na ako yan. It’s all their heart, it’s all their effort,” NU head coach Jeff Napa bared.
[NI head coach Jeff Napa delivers a high five to Bulldogs star Jake Figueroa against Adamson in UAAP Season 88 | Photo: The UAAP]
Lesson learned
Unlike their collapse against UP — when NU managed only 10 points in the fourth — the Bulldogs shot 7-of-10 this time while clamping down on defense late, holding Adamson to just a 27% shooting in the final period.
The win not only restored NU’s momentum but also their composure — something Santiago believes will be key in the long grind ahead.
“Magandang sign to maging mas composed pa kami sa fourth quarter… na mas trabahuhin pa namin [sa mga susunod na games],” Santiago noted.
NU will face the DLSU Green Archers next before wrapping up its first-round campaign against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Manzano paced Adamson with 16 points and four rebounds, while rookie Earl Medina added nine.
The Falcons, now 1-4, absorbed their third straight loss and will take on the UE Red Warriors and the Green Archers to close out their first-round schedule.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.