While the top-ranked Bulldogs took care of business against Ateneo, head coach Jeff Napa didn’t hold back on Gelo Santiago’s actions that led to his ejection — the lone blemish in NU’s otherwise convincing win.
NU head coach Jeff Napa was in no mood to sugarcoat things about Gelo Santiago’s actions in the Bulldogs’ 66-50 win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, October 26.
With 8:49 left in the third quarter and the Blue Eagles holding a slim 34-30 edge, Santiago got tangled up with Ateneo’s Waki Espina while battling for a rebound.
As both players fell to the baseline, and in the scramble, Santiago was seen swinging his right arm, with his elbow striking the back of Espina’s head.
The play resulted in a disqualifying foul and an automatic ejection for the NU sophomore — much to Napa’s frustration.
“Nagalit ako sa kanya. Gano’n kasimple. Hindi naman namin kailangan ng gano’n [sa] intense na laro. Hindi namin kailangan ‘yung mga gano’n na mistakes,” Napa said in the postgame news conference.
It wasn’t the first time Santiago found himself in hot water this UAAP Season 88.
He was also involved in a controversial play earlier this month after landing awkwardly on La Salle’s Mason Amos, causing an MCL injury that sidelined the Green Archer for the rest of the tournament.
Santiago finished scoreless in 10 minutes, missing all three of his shots but adding one rebound and one steal.
Still, his teammates picked up the slack.
Instead of unraveling, the Bulldogs stayed locked in, responding to Santiago’s ejection with a decisive 36–16 surge that buried the Blue Eagles and preserved their hold on first place at 7–2.
Jake Figueroa led the way for NU despite playing under the weather, putting up 17 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes.
[ALSO READ: Under-the-weather Jake Figueroa powers through as NU keeps first place in UAAP Season 88]
Up next for the Bulldogs is a tough test against the De La Salle Green Archers, who are riding a three-game winning streak, on Nov. 2 at 4:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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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.