National University regained its old form, beating University of the East, 64-52, to stop a six-game slide at the resumption of the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lost during a dreadful stretch, the Bulldogs found their way back behind their leaders Matt Salem, Jay Alejandro and Alfred Aroga.
The three combined for 41 points with the hot shooting Salem scoring a game-high 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting from three-point range.
“I thought we played good defense especially in the fourth quarter. We were able to assert ourselves in making stops,” said NU head coach Eric Altamirano.
“It’s been a very long dryspell for us. We don’t know the significance of this game, but it put us back in our winning ways,” added Altamirano, whose team kept its flickering Final Four hopes alive and improved 5-8.
NU, which is three games behind fourth-running Adamson, outscored UE, 20-7, in the final frame.
Salem alone outpointed the Red Warriors with 11 points in the last period, including three 3-pointers during an 18-0 tear.
“Ang daming pinagdaanan ng team dito sa second round and I’m proud a lot of our guys stepped up,” said Alejandro, who added 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Rookie Alvin Pasaol recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the also-ran Red Warriors, who reeled to 2-10.
Pasaol hit a triple that put UE ahead, 50-46, before NU woke up and took control.