NU takes UAAP first-round lead with 69-65 victory over FEU
The Bulldogs finished the opening round with a 5-2 record, while the Tamaraws fell to 4-3.
National University moved to the top of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball table by beating Far Eastern University 69-65 at Quezon City’s Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym. The result put the Bulldogs in first place as the opening round ended.
NU was behind 65-63 after the fourth quarter’s halfway point before scoring six consecutive points. Mo Diassana started that decisive stretch with a dunk, and PJ Palacielo finished it with a jumper with fewer than two minutes left. The Bulldogs kept FEU from recovering.
Earlier, the Tamaraws had taken a 47-39 advantage into halftime. NU’s third-quarter recovery included five unanswered points after FEU led 58-54 with 2:08 to play, putting the Bulldogs ahead before the final period.
Mac Alfanta scored a team-high 14 points for NU and added two rebounds and one assist. Palacielo’s contribution included 13 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Tebol Garcia matched his 13 points, while Reinhard Jumamoy supplied 12 and Paul Francisco contributed 10.
FEU’s leading scorer was Cabs Cabonilas, who registered 14 points alongside five rebounds. Pasaol and Mo Konateh each contributed 10 points for the Tamaraws.
