Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Despite its early struggles, National University has the inside track on the last Final Four berth and the defending champion’s playoff push is being anchored by its graduating captain Gelo Alolino.
Alolino is making sure he won’t be sent into an early exit and his latest performance of 20 points, 15 of which coming in the second half, capped by a game-winning jumper, lifted NU past Far Eastern University, 70-68, and back into solo fourth place.
The fifth-year guard flourished down the stretch and his go-ahead jumper after faking out his defender Francis Tamsi with 33.5 seconds left also extended the Bulldogs’ winning streak to three games.
Though he won it for his team in an all-important game, Alolino refused to take the credit and instead commended his teammates for helping him get free to hit the big basket.
“He is the type of player who loves the ball come endgame,” said Altamirano of Alolino, who also collected four rebounds, three assists and a steal on Saturday in a game between last season’s finalists.
Alolino’s plays earned him a second straight ACCEL Quantum/3XVI-UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week honor.
He bested University of Santo Tomas’ Kevin Ferrer, La Salle’s Jeron Teng and Prince Rivero and University of the East’s Chris Javier and Clark Derige for the weekly individual award given by print and online reporters regularly covering the UAAP.
NU secured at least a playoff for the last semifinals slot after ending its campaign in the elimination round with a 7-7 record with La Salle, which plays FEU in the final day of eliminations on Wednesday, just a half-game behind at 6-7.
“We are just going to wait for the result of Wednesday’s game (between FEU and La Salle),” said Altamirano. “Ang important lang, na-hurdle namin yung assignments namin (What’s important is that we were able to hurdle our assignments).”