NU spoils La Salle's Final 4 bid, escapes with 63-61 win

National University once again played the spoiler’s role as it quashed De La Salle University’s Final Four hopes on Thursday squeezing out a pulsating 63-61 triumph in their final elimination round game in the 72nd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum. NU’s win, its first against La Salle since an 80-59 rout on August 31, 2003, eliminated the Green Archers from at least earning a playoff for the last Final Four slot. Almost two years ago, on September 15, 2007, the Bulldogs also scored a 96-88 overtime win over Ateneo to end the Blue Eagles’ bid of taking the No. 2 spot and the twice-to-beat edge that goes with it. Ateneo was forced to a playoff with La Salle, absorbing a 70-69 loss that gave the Archers the second seeding in the semis. La Salle went on to win the title during Season 70 when they swept the University of the East Red Warriors in the finals. “We’ve been longing for a win in the second round," said NU coach Manny Dandan, who last steered the Bulldogs to victory on August 8 via a 76-70 decision over the Adamson Falcons in the first round. “Nahihiya rin kami sa (We’re already ashamed with the) community. (That’s why) we just continued to practice," added Dandan, who once again beat the Archers after almost six years. NU last defeated La Salle on August 31, 2003 via an 80-59 rout. “Binigay na ng mga bata sa (My players gave it their all in the) last game. We didn’t think of the others and their situation. Gusto lang namin manalo (We just want to win)." It will be the first time that La Salle would miss the Final Four since the league used the format in 1994. The Archers hold the longest streak in semis appearances with 14 straight. It was also a bitter end for Franz Pumaren’s coaching career at La Salle as the Taft-based squad missed the semifinals for the first time since he handled the Green Archers in 1998. Pumaren is said to be resigning as La Salle mentor at the end of this season to seek a Congressional seat in Quezon City. Hyram Bagatsing’s potentially game-tying jumper was partially deflected by NU slotman Jewel Ponferrada with 0.1 seconds left in the game that sealed La Salle’s fate. Joseph Hermosisima paced NU’s scoring with 19 points including 11 in the third period that gave the Bulldogs a 49-44 edge entering the final 10 minutes of the match. La Salle rallied from that five-point deficit and even took a 57-55 lead behind a Bader Malabes finish off a fastbreak, 4:26 to go. Hermosisima answered with a triple at the other end and a Joshua Webb split free throw tied the count for the last time at 58-58. – GMANews.TV