UAAP: Pat Yu’s overtime heroics lift NU past La Salle

NU Bulldogs’ Patrick Yu. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—National University needed five more minutes to defeat La Salle in overtime, 80-77, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

When the Bulldogs needed a hero to pull them out of the gutter, Patrick Yu answered the call to convert five of his 12 points in the extra period to improve to a 4-1 record.

His heroics, though, showed up after an earful from coach Jeff Napa.

“Before overtime, I got scolded by coach because there was one play where I didn’t shoot the ball and he screamed at me, saying, ‘shoot it, that’s why you’re inside.’ I was open, so I shot it,” said Yu.

“That’s what I’ve been telling them: if you’re open, don’t even think about it, just shoot. All of them here aren’t restricted to shoot as long as they can own up to it. He was put in the situation where a lot of people were helping him to get shots and he didn’t have anything else to do but shoot it,” explained Napa.

With the score tied at 69 in overtime, Yu pulled up from beyond the arc, followed by another breakaway layup to give NU a pivotal five-point lead, 74-69, with 1:51 to go in the game.

It was a different story for NU in regulation. 

FIGUERO-WOW.

NU’s Jale Figueroa sinks a huge triple to tie the game at 67-all against La Salle.

12.5 seconds remain. Archers ball. #UAAPSeason86 | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/Pp5BVBXfBr

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) October 15, 2023

The Bulldogs led by five, 62-57, after an Omar John slam dunk in the final period but the Green Archers would respond with a 10-2 spurt to take a 67-64 lead.

Thankfully for Napa, Jake Figueroa stepped up to the plate and hit a corner triple with 45 seconds to go, sending the bout to overtime at 67-all. He finished with a double-double of 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Helping Figueroa and Yu on offense was Jolo Manansala with 13 markers. John was also instrumental for the now-second seed with 10 points and four boards.

The Green Archers slid to 3-2, but not without Kevin Quiambao’s stellar stat line of 25 markers, nine rebounds, four dimes, a steal and a block.