UE’S ROI Sumang goes for a layup he missed off National U’s Alfred Aroga that doomed the Warriors. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Sustaining its surprise run, National University played steadily in the clutch to slip past University of the East, 57-55, and grab the solo lead in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Alfred Aroga and Gelo Alolino knocked in the big baskets in the final three minutes to power the Bulldogs past the Warriors, who had a chance to forge overtime before star guard Roi Sumang missed a layup in the dying seconds.
“It could have gone either way,” said coach Eric Altamirano after his Bulldogs emerged as the unexpected leader at 5-1. “I commend the boys for their resiliency. They refused to lose.”
Ateneo also survived a cliffhanger with Kiefer Ravena playing the key role in a thrilling windup for an 81-78 victory over the tough-fighting Far Eastern University.
Ravena unloaded 23 points, including three insurance free throws inside the final 12.1 seconds, to lift the Blue Eagles to solo second at 4-1.
“We should have been able to finish it better, but it’s still a win for us,” said Ateneo coach Bo Perasol. “We played toe-to-toe with them—rebounding-wise, running-wise.”
The Tamaraws had a chance to force an extra period, but Mike Tolomia’s three-point heave narrowly missed.
Ravena, who also grabbed five rebounds and dished out seven of the team’s 12 assists, gave the Eagles enough breathing room by drilling seven straight points for a 75-66 advantage going into the final minute.
Alolino knocked in a triple from the left wing to cap a 7-0 spurt that put the Bulldogs ahead, 55-54, after trailing at 48-54.
Aroga delivered the marginal basket from underneath with a little over two minutes left, 57-54, before Sumang nailed only one of two free throws then blew a potential game-tying basket in the last 66 seconds.
The Cameroonian Aroga, a rookie, finished with a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Glenn Khobuntin fired nine of his 14 points in the second half, where the Warriors built a 54-48 advantage after an 18-6 outburst.
The Tamaraws fell into a share of fourth with a 3-2 record, while the Warriors skidded to their third straight loss for a 2-3 card.
Meanwhile, commissioner Andy Jao said that University of the Philippines coach Rey Madrid may face suspension for his postgame comments against the referees in the Maroons’ loss to the Santo Tomas Tigers last Saturday.
“I don’t want to be cruel to him [since his rants were] also out of emotion, but there is something that we must do,” Jao told reporters, adding that he didn’t see anything suspicious with the game.
Madrid accused the referees of “point shaving,” a type of match-fixing linked to gambling, in UP’s 57-73 loss to UST.
The scores:
First Game
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—Galanza 16, Sumang 16, Javier 9, Alberto 8, Palma 4, Guiang 2, De Leon 0, Jumao-as 0 Mammie 0, Arafat 0, Varilla 0.
Quarters: 12-20, 23-28, 42-36, 57-55
Second Game
ATENEO 81—K. Ravena 23, Newsome 17, Elorde 12, Pessumal 12, Capacio 5, A. Tolentino 5, T. Ravena 4, Gotladera 2, V. Tolentino 1, Apacible 0, Babilonia 0.
FEU 78—Belo 22, Tolomia 15, Hargrove 13, Pogoy 8, Dennison 5, Cruz 4, Tamsi 4, Jose 4, Iñigo 3, Ru. Escoto 0, Ri. Escoto 0.
Quarters: 14-16, 35-35, 58-54, 81-78
