MANILA – Kurt Lojera scored on a game-winning basket as the De La Salle University Green Archers escaped with an 83-82 win over the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After seeing their 14-point edge turned into an 82-81 deficit on a basket by Bulldogs’ Shaun Ildefonso on Wednesday, Lojera drained the go-ahead baseline jumper with 14.9 seconds.
The Green Archers salvaged their first win of the season.
“It showed in the last quarter that we were rattled,” said Green Archers head coach Gian Nazario. “Good thing we were able to push through. Good thing Kurt had that jumper from the corner and it was a good learning experience for us.”
Justine Baltazar led the way with double-double 23 points and 10 rebounds while Jamie Malonzo also contributed double-double 14 points and 10 boards.
The 1-1 Green Archers has been on top for most part of the match with the largest at 80-66 in the fourth period but the Bulldogs countered with a 16-1 blast to take the lead only to fell short in the end.
Ildefonso top-scored with 26 points to go along with five steals while John Lloyd Clemented added 19 markers as the Bulldogs suffered its second consecutive defeat in as many games.
Meanwhile, Adamson University Falcons leaned on the hot hands of Jerrick Ahanmisi to score a 91-80 victory over the slumping University of the East Red Warriors.
The Falcons improved to 2-1 slate./PN
