National U kept mastery of the undermannned La Salle, ending the latter’s torrid four-game run with a 75-67 win to also fortify hold of the pole position in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Bulldogs turned the jets on in the second period, leaving the Green Archers off the dust with a 28-12 tear to set the tone in their eighth win against two losses.
Steve Nash Enriquez went perfect from downtown with his four triples for 16 points as NU stayed on course to clinching a twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four. The Bulldogs also created enough separation from the pack with two full games ahead of title holder UP (6-3) then La Salle (6-4).
The charges of coach Jeff Napa did it while also drawing significant help from Paul Francisco and Omar John with 14 and 12 points, respectively, for a repeat of their 82-78 win in the first round.
Jake Figueroa settled for only five points on 2-of-9 clip but came through with eight rebounds, six assists, six steals and a block.
‘It’s about how we perform every game really and how we put the effort. It’s about how we improve every game. Good thing against La Salle, everybody stepped up kaya nakuha namin ‘yung panalo,’ said Napa as NU continued to turn it around this season with a full-strength squad after parading an all-Filipino line-up due to the early exit of anchor Mo Diassana that led to its seventh-place finish in Season 87.
Later, Jorick Bautista scored 12 points while Kirby Mongcopa had 11 points and 17 rebounds as Far Eastern U (4-6) also snapped Adamson’s four-game streak with a 73-70 decision.