Amadou Ndiaye introduced himself to the college basketball community. |
By Dugout Philippines
QUEZON CITY—Chino Mosqueda hit a floater in the final 4.4 seconds to enable the National University Bulldogs to escape the hard-fighting Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 74-72, Sunday in the ongoing 25th Fr. Martin’s Cup Summer League presented by Resorts World Manila, Bedans 62-66, and Cocolife at the SGS Gym.
The Bulldogs blew an 18-point second quarter cushion but recovered just in time to secure their first win in Group B of the seniors division in rise to .500.
The Tamaraws lost in their debut game.
FEU went on a 12-2 run bridging the third and fourth periods to take a 61-55 lead early in the payoff period.
But the Bulldogs responded later on and tied the game at 70-all.
Med Salim hit a lay-up off a drive in the final minute, before Rendell Senining responded on his own to knot the count again.
With 30 seconds remaining, the Tamaraws gained possession and milked the clock down, but Jack Gloria’s attack to the basket was foiled, leading to Mosqueda’s eventual game-winning fastbreak layup.
Gloria had one final chance for the Morayta side but his corner three went too strong and hit nothing but air.
Michael Malonzo chipped in a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards. He also finished with 2 steals.
Daniel Chatman led the Bulldogs with 13 markers. Mansour Jeno and Jonas Tibayan combined for 17 points.
Gloria led FEU with 13 points and 4 assists.
In the other Seniors Group A meeting, the De La Salle Green Archers broke away from a tightly-contested affair against the Mapua Cardinals in the fourth quarter for a 64-57 victory.
The heated game was close all throughout before the Green Archers scored seven unanswered points in a 32-second stretch late in the payoff period, breaking a 53-all deadlock and taking a 60-53 lead with only 2:20 remaining in the game.
The perennial UAAP powerhouse crew held on for their second straight win in Group A of the seniors division.
The Cardinals evened their record to 1-1.
Big man Amadou Ndiaye tallied a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds and added a block to lead the Green Archers.
The game also saw the debut of former National U Bulldog Jordan Bartlett in green and white, as he chipped in 4 points and 3 assists.
Frontliners Christian Bunag and Warren Bonifacio led the Cardinals with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
In a battle between two more teams making their maiden appearance in the 25th FMC, the Adamson Baby Falcons used a strong first quarter start and survived a late scare to down San Sebastian Staglets, 81-75 in Group B of the juniors division.
The Baby Falcons went unstoppable with their running game early on, leading 23-4 against the Staglets.
But their NCAA counterparts slowly buckled down to work and made it a competitive game.
Up by just three, JM Erolon drilled a corner triple to push Adamson on top, 77-71 with 2:07 left.
The Staglets pulled within 77-75, but missed charities by Milo Janao in the final 45 seconds doomed their hopes.
Miguel Tulabut scored back to back baskets inside as the Falcons took an 81-75 advantage with 30 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Erolon finished with 18 points, all coming from long distance, to go along with 4 assists and 2 steals. Jio Gonzaga added 15 markers and 6 boards.
Janao had 21 points and 4 steals for San Sebastian.
In the other Juniors Group B match, the Arellano Braves went on a third quarter onslaught to demolish the San Beda Red Cubs Team B, 79-51 and stay unblemished with a 2-0 record.
The Braves poured in 31 points in the third canto, outscoring the Red Cubs by 16 to take a 67-40 lead heading into the final quarter.
Ivann Salinel led all scorers with 20 points while Marc Paul Lopez backstopped him with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
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