MANILA, Philippines — National University (NU) scored a major upset against University of the Philippines (UP), 67-47, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday to keep its flickering UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Final Four chances alive.
Bent on snapping their three-game slide, the Bulldogs jumped on the Fighting Maroons with a 24-8 start and stayed in control for the rest of the way.
There was no let up for NU, which built its biggest lead of 27 points, 62-35, following a one-hander from Nat Tulabut at the 6:05 mark of the final canto.
Patrick Yu racked up 17 points built on five triples to lead the Bulldogs, who improved to 3-8 and tied with the Ateneo Blue Eagles from seventh to eighth places.
Defense did the trick for NU which held UP to a 26.2 shooting field goal percentage including 13.8 from deep, resulting to a season low total points.
UP dropped to 9-2, staying in second place but unable to clinch a twice-to-beat Final Four advantage with the loss.
