UAAP: UE stuns NU anew, forces three-way tie at fifth

Chris Javier tries to shoot a jumper. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the East pulled off another conquest of defending champions National University, 52-57, in the UAAP Season 78 Men’s Basketball Tournament Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Fourth quarter practically belonged to the Red Warriors as they held off the Bulldogs by as much as seven, 47-40, when Chris Javier nailed a long jumper with 2:58 remaining.

UE stunned NU, 76-71, in their first round meeting on September 12.

With the Bulldogs still breathing down their neck, Javier would then again put the Red Warriors on his back when he isolated Alfred Aroga in the post and banked in a shot from the paint to give them a 49-43 edge with 1:35 remaining.

“Chris bailed us out,” the Red Warriors head coach Derrick Pumaren said as they snapped a four-game losing streak. “He took Aroga one-on-one and hit those big shots.”

Gelo Alolino would trim the UE led to four, 49-45, 11 seconds after and NU had the chance to trim it even further but Aroga missed on a layup.

It was a low scoring affair owing to both team’s poor shooting and butter fingers with NU committing 28 turnovers and UE 26.

Pumaren said he was not happy with his team’s offense after only shooting 23-of-72 from the field but the defense is a big plus.

“Offensively, I’m not happy, we made the other team turn the ball over but we didn’t take advantage of it,” Pumaren said as the Red Warriors held the Bulldogs to a disastrous 16-of-57 shooting.

Javier led UE with 16 points and nine rebounds while Paul Varilla added 10 points.

Aroga led the defending champions with 11 points and nine boards.