MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila scored a payback win against National University, 70-68, to snap its three-game slide in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Kristian Porter pumped 14 points including a crucial putback to lead the Blue Eagles, who improved to 2-6 but still at the bottom of the 8-team tourney.
Porter, who also logged 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, made the putback in the last 27.3 as he gave Ateneo a 68-65 lead over the Bulldogs who beat the Blue Eagles in the first round last week.
An Ian Espinosa split from the line answered by a Jolo Manansala trey made it a 69-68 ball game before Espinosa split another pair of free throws in the last 5.1 seconds.
Manansala tried another trey but missed as the Blue Eagles survived.
NU dropped to 2-6 for sixth place.
