UAAP: UE ‘bigs’ play vital role in convincing win vs NU

MANILA, Philippines –University of the East rode the backs of their big men and the Red Warriors used a 16-0 run in the third quarter to rout the National University Bulldogs 67-50 in the men’s basketball tournament of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Sunday at the PhilSports Arena. Elmer Espiritu got his game going after a dismal showing in UE’s previous ousting by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds in a well-rounded performance versus the Bulldogs. Hans Thiele chipped in 11 points and 16 rebounds for the Warriors (5-4) who avoided falling below-.500 in the standings. Espiritu was a nonfactor in UE’s loss to La Salle Thursday, putting up only two points in 22 minutes. Against NU, the Warriors’ go-to guy not only scored, he did everything else, accounting for three assists, two assists and four blocked shots. With the score tied at 26 in the third quarter, UE ran NU to the ground with the critical rally that virtually iced the game. The Bulldogs lost for the first time after winning two straight. They fell to 2-7 and tied University of the Philippines at the bottom of the standings. Big man Raymond Aguilar led NU with 17 points. Meanwhile, NU player Jessey Garcia was taken to the Medical City hospital after suffering head and neck injuries in a collision with UE’s Marcy Arellano in the third quarter. – GMANews.TV