Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of the East started off its second round campaign in glorious fashion after taking down National University, 90-77, to score back-to-back wins in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament.
The Red Warriors, who started the season 0-6, improved to 2-6 while the Bulldogs slipped to 3-5.
UE’s second unit came up big late in the game and outscored NU’s core unit, 18-9, in the crucial moments of the match.
Mark Olayon gave the Red Warriors a 14-point lead, 88-74, on an and-one play with 47 seconds left to play.
UE head coach Derrick Pumaren said they have to start strong in the second half of the tournament if they hope of cracking the top four.
“We thought about it the whole week that if we want to make a run we have to start the second round on a winning note,” said Pumaren. “The second round will be tighter and there’s no third round for us.”
“And I’m proud of the second group because we were able to give Alvin [Pasaol] his much needed rest. These guys were able to deliver and they held the fort for us.”
Pasaol, after scoring 49 and 32 points in his previous two games, got his 4th foul late in the third quarter and finished the game with 11 points and 10 boards in 19 minutes of play.
It was Olayon who topbilled UE’s offense with 17 points to go along six rebounds and eight assists while Wil Bartolome and Mark Maloles combined for 27 points to help the Red Warriors.
Nick Abanto showed his grit underneath finishing with a 13-point, 11 rebound double-double for UE.
Issa Gaye led NU with 20 points and 13 rebounds while J-Jay Alejandro almost came away with a triple-double walking off the floor with 16 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists under his name.