UAAP: Bulldogs clamp down on defense, limit Tigers to 40 points

The National University Bulldogs forced the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers to more than 20 turnovers to cruise to a 59-40 victory Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

 

The Bulldogs matched the Tigers early in the game, before Alfred Aroga and Gelo Alolino created some separation, 9-5, at the 4:17 mark. Ed Daquioag and Jamil Sheriff countered with back to back makes to tie it up, but a 5-0 swing capped by a Rev Diputado fastbreak layup put NU ahead, 14-9.

 

Glen Khobuntin joined Aroga in the paint to start the second period for a nine-point lead, but UST responded with an and one from Karim Abdul and a tough jumper form Kevin Ferrer. After an NU trey, the Tigers then exploited the absence of Aroga in the paint, getting several offensive boards for a 7-0 run to tie the game anew at 21-all. Reden Celda and JJ Alejandro closed out the half with back to back hits for the Bulldogs for a 25-21 lead.

 

The Bulldogs uncorked a 12-2 run to open up a 37-23 lead midway through the third. Enzo Subido stopped the bleeding with a trey, but Troy Rosario quickly took it back at the other end. Freethrows from Aljon Mariano, Kevin Ferrer and Sheriff ended the period, as NU carried a 47-31 lead after three.

 

The Tigers continued with their struggles in the fourth, as Kyle Neypes connected on back to back hits to make it a 20-point game at the 6:38 mark, 51-31. UST converted on their first fieldgoal at the 5:49 mark, as Sheriff hit a pull up, but Alolino and Khobuntin combined for seven points to bump the lead to 21 with 1:45 remaining. An Aljon Mariano putback with five seconds remaining saved UST from scoring below 40 points in the game to settle the final score. - GMA News