Final-four bound UP dealt a huge upset by first-round victim NU

University of the Philippines was handed a huge upset in their first loss of the second round and second overall, in a wire-to-wire game by National University, 67-47, who avenged their first round loss in the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament, Sunday, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. 

UP last encountered defeat to NU back in October 12, 2022, 80-75, in the first round of Season 85. The loss halted their five game win streak against the Bulldogs who avenged their 89-62 round one loss to the Maroons with a dominant win of their own. 

The Fighting Maroons could not sustain their three-game winning streak, going down 9-2, still at solo second. NU in turn snapped their three-game skid to go up to 3-8 and still be in the running in the Final Four race, tying Ateneo at the seventh position. 

The Bulldogs came out of the gates firing from all cylinders, landing the first punch and dominated the first quarter, 24-8, taking advantage of the Maroons’ field goal woes. 

Known to have recovered from slow starts, UP’s story this time around would be different.

Nathaniel Tulabut’s floater against Gani Stevens would mark NU’s biggest lead at 27 points, 62-35, with 6:06 mins remaining in the fourth quarter. Though outscoring their opponents 16-12 in the final frame, UP could not surmount the deficit as NU had an answer to every run. 

Leading the Bulldogs was Patrick Yu who scored 17, shooting five of the team’s total seven triples, along with two assists, and one rebound. Backstopping him was Jake Figueroa with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

PJ Palacielo contributed nine points, three rebounds, and two blocks while Lenard Santiago scored eight points, five rebounds with a team-high plus 20 rating.

UP’s only double digit scorer was Aldous Torculas, finishing with 13 points, five rebounds, and one assist. JD Cagulangan struggled with his shooting and just scored eight points on a 3-of-13 shooting clip while turning the ball over nine times. 

The Diliman-based squad had a dismal shooting afternoon, only accounting for 26.2 percent or 17-of-65 field goals made, and 37.5 percent or 9-of-24 on freethrows. UP also struggled at the three-point line, making only 4 out of 29 with a 13.8 percentage. However, they grabbed 51 boards which resulted to 20 points, compared to NU’s 37 rebounds and eight second chance points.

UP committed 30 turnovers, the most since coach Goldwin Monteverde held the reins. NU took advantage of those miscues, converting 23 points. On the other hand, the Maroons were not able to capitalize on the Bulldogs’ 24 turnovers, only making four points off of them.

Although assured of a Final Four spot, the UP Fighting Maroons would need to regroup in the coming games, especially the next one against the defending champions and top-seeded De La Salle Green Archers, to achieve the twice-to-beat advantage, and get their groove back heading into the tail end of the eliminations and Final Four.

The second round rematch against the Green Archers will be held this Sunday, November 10, 6:30pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The NU Bulldogs, who ended their three-game losing streak, will next face the UST Growling Tigers on Wednesday, November 6, 6:30pm at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

The Scores: 

NU 67 – Yu 17, Figueroa 11, Palacielo 9, Santiago 8, Lim 5, Manansala 4, Perciano 4, Tulabut 4, Jumamoy 3, Garcia 2, Padrones 0, Parks 0, Enriquez 0, Francisco 0.

UP 47 – Torculas 13, Cagulangan 8, Millora-Brown 4, Briones 4, Fortea 3, Torres 3, Abadiano 2, Bayla 2, Belmonte 2, Lopez 2, Stevens 2, Alarcon 2, Ududo 0, Alter 0.

Quarter Scores: 24-8, 34-20, 55-31, 67-47

This UP Fighting Maroons Club post is in partnership with Jiang Nan Hotpot.