National University looks to continue writing its own script in UAAP Season 80
WITH their playoff hopes in Season 80 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) kept alive after a gutsy win in their game last time around, the National University (NU) Bulldogs are bent more than ever to continue writing their own script as they play their last game of the elimination round.
Defeated the Far Eastern University ( FEU) Tamaraws, 87- 84, last Wednesday to stay in the Final Four hunt while derailing the latter’s push to advance to the next round outright, the Bulldogs ( 5- 8) still have a chance to move on to the semis provided they beat the University of the Philippines ( UP) Fighting Maroons ( 5- 8) and FEU (6-7) loses to the Adamson Soaring Falcons (9-4) in games set for tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In such an outcome, NU ties FEU, forcing a playoff for the last semifinal spot.
For NU coach Jamike Jarin, while their playoff chances do not rest solely in their hands, they promise to go for it and let the chips fall where they may.
“We just control what we can control. But definitely we will give our best in our game on Saturday,” said Mr. Jarin after their win over FEU.
“The beauty of sports is you’ll never know what will happen. It’s unscripted. So with that, we hope to continue writing our own script for the season,” he added.
In beating FEU, NU used a strong finish in the end to pull the rug from under FEU, which was seemingly headed for the victory and the Final Four for much of the contest.
Big man Issa Gaye led the Bulldogs with 24 points and 11 rebounds while Jayjay Alejandro finished with 17 points, six rebounds and nine assists.
Enzo Joson added 13 markers for NU.
The Bulldogs play the Maroons at 2 p.m. while FEU faces off with Adamson at 4 p.m.
The UAAP Season 80 elimination round ends on Sunday with the University of the East Red Warriors (3-10) taking on the still-winless University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers (0-13) at 12 noon also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
League- leading Ateneo Blue Eagles (13-0), meanwhile, go for sweep of the eliminations against defending champions De La Salle Green Archers (11-2) at 4 p.m. —