National University withstood De La Salle University’s late rally to escape with an 82-78 victory and seize the solo lead in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday, Oct. 12, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Green Archers, who lost Mason Amos to injury in the fourth quarter, were ahead 61-55 before the Bulldogs stormed back behind the clutch performances of PJ Palacielo and Reinhard Jumamoy.

Palacielo exploded for 10 points in the final frame, while Jumamoy drilled two crucial three-pointers that shifted the momentum in NU’s favor.

“We’d like to say thank you sa nilaro ng mga bata. They really wanted it since the other day pa sa practice. You can see that they were so focused on what they’re doing, they were so relaxed. We know that when we entered this game, alam nila yung gagawin nila,” said NU assistant coach Vic Ycasiano, who spoke on behalf of head coach Jeff Napa, as veteran mentor immediately proceeded to the Ynares Center in Antipolo for Terrafirma’s PBA Philippine Cup clash against NLEX.

(“We’d like to thank the boys for the way they played. They really wanted this win — even back in practice the other day, you could already see how focused and composed they were. When we entered this game, we knew they understood exactly what they had to do.”)

Back-to-back baskets by Luis Pablo and Jacob Cortez cut La Salle’s deficit to just two, 70-72, but Palacielo responded with four straight points to give the Bulldogs a 76-70 cushion with 1:55 left before fouling out with 42.6 seconds remaining.

La Salle refused to fold, closing the gap to 75-76 after three made free throws from Cortez and EJ Gollena, followed by a layup from Cortez with 13.9 seconds left.

Jake Figueroa was then sent to the line with 12.1 ticks remaining, making the first before missing the second. Mike Phillips hauled down the rebound, but Jumamoy perfectly timed a steal off Phillips, who then committed his final foul on Paul Francisco.

Francisco calmly sank both free throws to extend NU’s lead to 79-75 with just seven seconds left.

Kean Baclaan, facing his former team, buried a triple with 4.4 seconds to go to bring La Salle within one, 78-79, but Jumamoy coolly answered with two free throws on the other end to make it 81-78. The final blow came when Lebron Jhames Daep was called for traveling, sealing the Bulldogs’ win.

Figueroa led NU with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Francisco and Gelo Santiago added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Santiago also fouled out late in the game with under three minutes to go.

“Sa past games nga sa preseason, talagang hindi namin matalo ang La Salle. Talagang kailangan namin gawan ng paraan kung ano ‘yung bubutasin namin sa kanila para talunin namin sila. After pa lang ng last game namin, talagang nakapokus kami kung anong kailangan namin gawin,” said Palacielo, who finished with 16 points.

("In our past preseason games, we really couldn’t beat La Salle. We had to figure out what weakness we could exploit to finally get that win. Right after our last game, we were already focused on what we needed to do.")

Jumamoy ended with eight points — all coming in the decisive fourth quarter — as NU improved to a league-best 5-1 record. The Bulldogs will wrap up the first round against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Overall, NU was called for 34 fouls that led to 33 free throw attempts for La Salle, who made 23 of them.

Amos, who tallied seven points and four assists, was carried off the court at the 7:07 mark of the fourth quarter after Santiago inadvertently landed on his right knee. He was later brought to the dugout in a wheelchair and will have his MRI tonight, according to head coach Topex Robinson.

Phillips powered the Green Archers with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and three steals, while Cortez also had 15 points. Baclaan chipped in 11 points and six assists.

La Salle, now on a two-game skid with a 2-3 record and still outside the top four, will try to bounce back on Wednesday against the University of the East Red Warriors at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.