The NU Bulldogs are now assured of at least a playoff for the twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 88 Final Four with a win over the FEU Tamaraws.
The NU Bulldogs continued their surge in UAAP Season 88 as they near a twice-to-beat semis advantage after a gutsy win over the FEU Tamaraws, 70-64, in their second round meeting in UAAP Season 88 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs, who gave up an 8-0 run to the Tamaraws to begin the fourth quarter, relied on the clutch makes of Paul Francisco and Steve Nash Enriquez to deny FEU of a win.
NU was ahead by only a point when Francisco drilled a booming triple from a Jake Figueroa rebound to push NU’s lead to a two-possession advantage, 63-59, with 3:39 ticks left in the ballgame.
Then Enriquez piled on with a crafty layup that gave NU the 6-point advantage with three minutes remaining.
Despite FEU threatening late with a big triple from Jed Daa, the Tamaraws just couldn’t make the most out of their chances in the charity stripe.
With 1:13 left, Figueroa drilled the dagger triple that gave NU the 70-64 advantage to survive FEU’s efforts.
NU improved to 10-2 with two games remaining in their schedule before the Final Four. FEU, meanwhile, saw their semis hopes dwindle further with a 4-7 slate.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.