by Waylon Galvez
Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta)
2 p.m. – Ateneo vs UE
4 p.m. – UP vs FEU
National University completed a season sweep of University of Santo Tomas, 69-61, yesterday in the 81st UAAP men’s basketball at the Fil-Oil Flying V Center in San Juan City.
Dave Ildefonso scored 16 points, including seven in the fourth quarter for NU, which also downed UST, 75-70, on opening day last September 8.
The 6-foot-2 Ildefonso’s baskets came when the Tigers threatened to take control behind Renzo Subido and Marvin Lee, whose three-pointer capped a 14-5 run to cut NU’s lead to 57-56 with 5:06 to play.
Ildefonso then scored on a layup for a 59-56 lead, and after a Zach Huang jumper, the Bulldogs rookie completed a three-point play for a 62-58 advantage with 4:08 left in the game.
NU guard AJ Diputado split his free throws off a foul by Subido, and after a miss by UST, Ildefonso gave the Bulldogs a 65-58 lead with a jumper less than three minutes remaining.
In the second game, Nigerian center Bright Akhuetie scored a career best 28 points and added 13 rebounds as he powered the UP Fighting Maroons to a 94-81 win over the University of the East Red Warriors.
The scores:
NU 69 – Ildefonso D. 16, Rike 13, Clemente 12, Gaye 10, Diputado 7, Ildefonso S. 4, Yu 3, Joson 2, Sinclair 2, Aquino 0, Gallego 0, Galinato 0, Tibayan 0.
UST 61 – Subido 18, Lee 12, Huang 11, Cansino 8, Mahinay 8, Caunan 4, Bataller 0, Marcos 0, Zamora 0, Cosejo 0, Agustin 0.
Quarters: 15-11; 33-32; 53-42; 69-61.
UP 94 – Akhuetie 28, Desiderio 16, Gomez de Liaño Ju. 15, Dario 13, Manzo 6, Vito 5, Jaboneta 3, Lim 3, Prado 3, Murrell 2, Longa 0, Tungcab 0, Gozum 0.
UE 81 – Pasaol 30, Manalang 15, Conner 12, Varilla 10, Beltran 4, Cullar 3, Antiporda 3, Strait 2, Bartolome 2, Acuno 0, Guion 0.
Quarters: 19-20; 41-44; 63-60; 94-81.
