Bulldogs oust Warriors from Final 4 race

National University ended University of the East’s Final Four hopes on Sunday after the Bulldogs hacked out a pulsating 69-68 victory to show the Red Warriors the exit door in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Cameroonian big man Emmanuel Mbe powered his way inside the paint in the second half, then helped NU stave off UE’s last ditch comeback attempt as the Bulldogs boosted their own semifinal hopes. Mbe finished with 18 points, 11 in the last two quarters, while adding nine rebounds as the Sampaloc-based dribblers improved its card to 5-6. The Bulldogs' win put them just two games behind La Salle (7-4) for the last semifinals seat. "Just one game at a time," said NU coach Eric Gonzales. "Of course, we want to be in the Final Four, but it’s either a stumbling block or stepping stone for us and good thing about this game it was the latter." "But we're still far (from La Salle)," added Gonzales. UE, which fell to 4-8, officially bowed out early this season just a year after an impressive ride all the way to the finals. The Recto-based dribblers will miss the Final Four for the first time since 2001. Ironically, it was the Bulldogs who showed them the door that same year during a playoff for the last semis slot. NU trailed, 37-39, at the half, but Mbe capitalized on the scoring chances given to him. Mbe's basket triggered the Bulldogs breakaway as NU grabbed several 11-point leads, the last at 61-50. But UE won't go down without a fight. The Red Warriors made one final push behind Kenneth Acibar, James Martinez and Paul Lee to move within two, 64-66, with 1:30 left in the contest. Lee, actually, had an opportunity to tie the game off Ponferrada's fifth foul, but could only split his charities with 61 seconds left. Mbe also split his charities in the next play, allowing UE to get another chance. However, Acibar made a gamble by taking a shot instead of kicking the ball out to an open Martinez from the right corner, then Hermosisima grabbed the rebound and was fouled in the process. Hermosisima, though, could only make one of two shots with 21.8 seconds to go and the Recto-based cagers saw a window of opportunity to tie the game. But Lee missed a quick two with 13 seconds left that virtually settled the outcome. "I'm proud with the defense they gave against UE because that team has the best backcourt in the league," Gonzales said. Acibar finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, Martinez had 14 points while Paul Zamar and Lee scored 11 and 10 points, respectively for UE, which pulled off a stunning 62-60 victory over defending champion Ateneo only to falter against NU, this time. Lee also had four rebounds, five assists and two steals. - RCJ/JVP, GMANews.TV