Bulldogs shade Red Warriors for third straight win

While National U continues to roll, host University of the East continues to struggle.

The Bulldogs banked on their defense in the crunch to foil the Red Warriors, 57-55, on Sunday afternoon and keep their firm hold on the top spot in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

After trailing by as many as 11 points in the opening minutes and even staring at a 48-54 deficit in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs made life miserable for UE in the the final four minutes behind its suffocating defense while scoring nine of the game’s last 10 points, to nail their third straight victory and a 5-1 record overall.

The Red Warriors, who even led 20-9 off Dan Alberto’s triple, groped for form in the second half in the face of the Bulldogs’ defense and their hopes completely went for naught after guard Roi Sumang missed a potential game-tying, up-and-under lay-up against NU import Alfred Aroga in the waning seconds.

The 6-foot-6 Aroga led all scorers with 18 points while forwards Glenn Khobuntin and Troy Rosario added at least 11 markers but it was their collective desire to play lockdown defense in the stretch that allowed NU to pull through against UE, which fell into a maze of errors and sorry misses.

Sumang, who finished with 16 points, could only come up with just a solitary marker in the final four minutes and had several misses, none bigger than his shot against Aroga, causing the Red Warriors to absorb their third straight setback after five starts.

With Sumang and Alberto waxing hot early, the Red Warriors used a 16-4 run to take an early 11-point lead at 20-9, showing the form on both ends that UE head coach Derrick Pumaren was looking for.

But NU fought back in the third, limiting UE to just three made field goals while scoring 19 big points to take a 42-36 cushion.

However, the Red Warriors started the fourth canto with an 18-6 run behind Bong Galanza and unheralded Emil Palma, whose lay-up off a Bulldog error that gave them a 54-48 cushion with 4:42 left.

Just when UE though it was on its way to a big finish, NU tightened up its defensive bearings in scoring nine straight points while repeatedly foiling the Warriors attack.

The Main Man: Cameroon center Alfred Aroga threw his full weight around in the lane as he finished with game-highs of 18 points and 15 rebounds.

Honorable Mentions: Backing up Aroga were local forwards Glenn Khobuntin and Troy Rosario, who combined for 25 markers and 13 boards.

Game Turning Point: After Emil Palma made a lay-up that put UE ahead 54-48, National U responded big with a nine unanswered points anchored on its rejuvenated defense.

He Said It:
National U head coach Eric Altamirano: It was a tightly-contested game. it could have gone either way. i just ommedn the boys for the resiliency. they refused to lose. it came down to stops in the end—stopping Roi Sumang.

The scores:
NU (57) — Aroga 18, Khobuntin 14, Rosario 11, Alolino 6, Perez 4, Diputado 2, Javelona 2, Alejandro 0, Betayene 0, Atangan 0, Celda 0, Neypes 0.

UE (55) — Sumang 16, Galanza 16, Javier 9, Alberto 8, Palma 4, Guiang 2, de Leon 0, Jumao-as 0, Mammie 0, Arafat 0, Varilla 0.
Quarterscores: 12-20; 23-28; 42-36; 57-55.