By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The National University (NU) Bulldogs finally ended their four-game skid after sending the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles crashing, 78-68, in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball Tournament on October 5, 2024, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
After four consecutive heartbreaking defeats that turned their two-week campaign into a nightmare, the Bulldogs regrouped in the most perfect time entering the second round of the preliminaries to make one last push for a Final Four berth.
NU added to Ateneo’s woes in the current UAAP season as they handed the Blue Eagles their third straight defeat and fell down to the last spot of the standings with a disappointing 1-6 win-loss record.
The Bulldogs learned a lot from their painful losses and banked on a more consistent outing in the whole four-quarter game.
From a slow start in the last games, the Bulldogs displayed an inspired start to cap off the streak-busting win with a wire-to-wire victory.
Every time Ateneo made a run, the Bulldogs just had plenty of answers and maintained their level of play to protect their lead until the final buzzer.
The Blue Eagles got close to as much as five points courtesy of huge baskets from Shawn Tuano and Kyle Gambler but a demoralizing counter run from the Bulldogs officially shut Ateneo’s chances of a come-from-behind effort.
NU’s dynamic duo of Kenshin Padrones and Jake Figueroa steered the Bulldogs in the final five minutes, draining the clutch baskets that pushed their advantage to nine points with only a minute remaining.
Ateneo had chances to keep themselves within striking distance but they ran out of gas as their long heaves from the rainbow country fell short and failed to kiss the net.
Padrones played his best game wearing the NU uniform so far in the season as the role player turned into a star with an impressive stat-line of 18 points and six rebounds.
Meanwhile, the ever-reliable Figueroa stuffed the stat sheets and recorded 15 markers, seven rebounds, and four assists.
“Finally. At least na-break na namin ‘yung four-game losing streak na heartbreak. Hopefully, this win will give us confidence going into the second round,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa after the win.
