National University made quick work of winless University of the East, 77-61, in the UAAP Season 84 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Saturday, April 9.
Michael Malonzo, John Galinato and Reyland Torres joined forces from the get-go as the Bulldogs pulled away for good as early as halftime with a 44-21 lead.
"Big win for us. Madadala namin 'to for the second round," said head coach Jeff Napa as the Bulldogs finished first round at solo fourth with a 4-3 record.
Malonzo spearheaded NU with 12 points on a 5-of-6 shooting including one three-pointer to go with 10 rebounds, John Lloyd Clemente came off the bench with 12 points and three rebounds, Galinato finished with nine points and five rebounds.
The Red Warriors only scored nine points in the first period as Galinato sparked an early 11-0 spurt to extend the gap by as many as eight, 22-9.
It was the Bulldogs from that point on as the hapless Warriors couldn't find their groove heading into the second half highlighted by an Aurin Catacutan own goal with less than four minutes to work on in the third quarter.
NU never looked back and did not stop its assault after stretching its lead by as many as 30 points, 62-32, after a Jolo Manansala basket with plenty 2:09 left still in the third period.
Kyle Paranada paced the winless UE, which fell to a 0-7 hole, with 12 points and three steals, Catacutan added 11 points and three rebounds, and Jeremy Cruz chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.
Meanwhile, after a two-game suspension, Warriors head coach Jack Santiago was put on a temporary suspension by the university pending its internal investigation of the incident he was involved in against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons last April 2.
The Scores:
NU 77 -- Malonzo 12, Clemente 12, Galinato 9, Yu 8, Torres 7, Tibayan 7, Manansala 6, Enriquez 4, Minerva 4, Ildefonso 3, Joson 3, Felicilda 2, Figueroa 0, Flores 0, Mahinay 0.
UE 61 -- K. Paranada 12, Catacutan 11, J. Cruz 10, Pagsanjan 7, Escamis 6, Antiporda 5, Sawat 4, Tulabut 4, Guevarra 2, Abatayo 0, N. Paranada 0, Beltran 0, Villanueva 0, Lorenzana 0.
Quarterscores: 22-9, 44-21, 68-39, 77-61.