NU coach Jeff Napa. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—National University kept its title retention bid alive after defeating College of St. Benilde, 88-72, and being the first squad to punch a semifinals ticket in the FIloil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
After finding themselves in a stalemate with the Blazers at the end of regulation, 72-all, the Bulldogs wiped out CSB on defense and forcing them to zero points in overtime.
Coach Jeff Napa, however, said being caught in extra time against a season squad is a “necessary game.”
“I’m happy to see this because these are the really necessary games for them. It’s where their (Bulldogs) characters will be tested,” Napa said in Filipino.
“It was a game where we were down and we saw how to bounce back and lift back the game to our favor despite a very bad game.”
Steve Nash Enriquez more than made up for the absence of Kean Baclaan (out due to fever) with 21 points built on four successful tries from beyond the arc.
Jake Figueroa chipped in 16 points, including the game-tying triple in regulation.
Felipe Marasigan top scored for Benilde with 12 markers and five rebounds. Migs Oczon had a subpar showing with 11 markers, missing 10 out of his 14 tries from the field.
The Bulldogs will face the winner of the quarterfinals between Group II’s La Salle and the victor of the aggregate two-game series between Letran and Guang Ming College.
The Knights, erstwhile, won Game 1 of said series against Guang Ming earlier, 85-73.