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UAAP: NU pulls away from UST, seals Final 4 spot

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) battle during the second round of the UAAP season 85 men" s="" basketball="" in="" Pasay="" City="" on="" November="" Mark="" ABS-CBN="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/sports/11/20/11202022-uaap_nu-vs-ust.jpg"/><figcaption>The National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) battle during the second round of the UAAP season 85 men&#x27;s basketball in Pasay City on November 20, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA (UPDATED) - National University has clinched a spot in the Final 4 of UAAP Season 85, after pulling away for an 67-57 victory over University of Santo Tomas on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.The Bulldogs used a backbreaking 12-0 run in the final quarter to run what had been a close game into a relatively comfortable victory -- their fourth straight triumph of the men&#x27;s basketball tournament. Veteran John Lloyd Clemente spearheaded the charge for NU, with 19 points and five rebounds.National U improved to 9-3 to become the second team to secure a Final 4 berth, joining defending champion University of the Philippines. The Bulldogs remain in the hunt for a twice-to-beat advantage as well.On the other hand, the Growling Tigers fell to a tenth straight loss and are now formally eliminated from the semifinals race. They dropped to 1-10 in the tournament. &quot;Bad win for us,&quot; said NU coach Jeff Napa, whose team got off to a flat start and trailed by as much as 11 points. &quot;But still, naka-survive kami sa UST. Wala ng pressure ang UST, so they played their hearts out and talaga binigyan kami ng problema.&quot;&quot;Good thing, in the second half, we came back. Naka-regroup kami, at nakuha namin ang panalo,&quot; he added. UST had a 36-25 lead midway through the second quarter and were still ahead, 36-29, at the break. But they were limited to just eight points in the third period as the Bulldogs made their move after a shaky opener. The Tigers managed to go toe-to-toe with NU until the 6:08 mark of the fourth quarter, when JC Garing&#x27;s layup gave them a 54-52 lead. But a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Steve Nash Enriquez gave the lead back to the Bulldogs, and UST had no answer from that point.Enriquez&#x27;s triple sparked a 12-0 flurry for NU, capped by a Clemente three-pointer that gave the Bulldogs a 10-point spread, 64-54, with under two minutes to play.The Tigers didn&#x27;t help their cause by committing a series of turnovers; their last meaningful basket was a triple by Nic Cabanero with 32.4 seconds to go that trimmed the lead to seven points, 64-57. But Paul Manalang was called for a technical foul in the ensuing play for continuous complaining, and Clemente nailed three free throws down the stretch to secure NU&#x27;s victory. &quot;We have to be ready for our last two games of the second round,&quot; Napa said of his team as he stressed that they have yet to reach their goal for the season. &quot;Hindi lang naman Final 4 ang tina-target namin dito.&quot;Omar John contributed 12 points and Kean Baclaan added 10 points and six assists in the NU win. The Bulldogs scored 14 points off UST&#x27;s 15 turnovers in the game, while turning their 16 offensive rebounds to 12 second chance points.Cabanero had 20 points for UST, though he shot just 8-of-18 from the field. Adama Faye had an 11-point, 15-rebound double-double to go along with three blocks. No other UST player scored in double-digits, however.<div>The Scores:</div>NU 67 -- Clemente 19, John 12, Baclaan 10, Malonzo 6, Manansala 6, Figueroa 4, Palacielo 4, Enriquez 3, Galinato 3, Yu 0, Mahinay 0, Tibayan 0, Padrones 0, Minerva 0.UST 57 -- Cabanero 20, Faye 11, Pangilinan 8, Garing 6, Calimag 5, Manaytay 4, Duremdes 3, Manalang 0.Quarters: 11-20, 29-36, 46-44, 67-57.

NU has clinched a spot in the Final 4 of UAAP Season 85, after pulling away for a 67-57 victory over UST on Sunday. 

UAAP: NU pulls away from UST, seals Final 4 spot

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UAAP: NU pulls away from UST, seals Final 4 spot

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 20, 2022 03:37 PM PHT

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Updated November 20, 2022 05:11 PM PHT

Read More:

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UAAP Season 85

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UST Growling Tigers

NU Bulldogs

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