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| NU leaned on Jjay Alejandro as the Bulldogs kept their postseason hopes alive. |
QUEZON CITY -- National University have kept their flickering postseason hopes alive after coming back from the dead to stun FEU, 87-84 Wednesday afternoon at the Big Dome
JJay Alejandro ignited a fourth quarter uprising to came back from as much as fifteen, and eight in the final six minutes for tge Bulldogs to pull the rug from the Tamaraws, firing 11 of his 17 points in the final frame.
His final chapter showing meant that Issa Gaye's double-double of 24 points and 11 boards will not go down the drain, as it kept not just them, but also UP's final four chances alive with NU toting an improved card of 5-8.
Arvin Tolentino and Ron Dennsion both fired for 21 points each but their hot shooting in the first half went down the drain when it mattered the most, putting them at one game below .500 at 6-7, as the chance of a triple tie between the Tams, NU and UP now improved heading into the penultimate day of eliminations where they will play out their final games of the regular season.
FEU started like a house on fire in the opening chapter with Dennison and Tolentino fired three triples each as the season hosts enjoyed an eight point lead in which they enjoyed until the break.
However, NU clawed back into life in the third after being down fifteen in the previous quarter, and briefly taken the lead for the very first time at 64-62, but the Tams regrouped on time for a 10-0 finishing kick to end the period on a high note.
FEU had an 81-73 lead with 6:15 left in the game but Alejandro NU's nine points in their 13-0 run, including a go-ahead triple at the 4:15 mark.
Then Enzo Joson punctuated the comeback by intercepting the pass intended for Wendell Comboy 13.5 ticks left, and sealed it with a split from the line as Tolentino's last second trey hit the back iron to complete the improbable of the fightbacks.
The Scores:
NU 87 -- Gaye 24, Alejandro 17, Joson 13, Mosqueda 8, Tibayan 7, Abatayo 6, Aquino 5, Diputado 4, Yu 2, Cauilan 1, Lastimosa 0, Morido 0, Salem 0, Rangel 0, Bartlett 0
FEU 84 -- Dennison 21, Tolentino 21, Comboy 16, Cani 14, Tuffin 3, Iñigo 3, Ebona 2, Escoto 2, Orizu 2, Parker 0, Trinidad 0
Quarter scores: 19-27, 39-47, 64-72, 87-84
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