Clemente lists career-high 21 points; NU ends 1st-round drive crushing UE

NU's Issa Gaye aims for the basket.  --Justin Kenneth Carandang

The NU Bulldogs ended their first-round campaign on a high note with a big win over the UE Red Warriors, 88-61, Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

NU relied on a strong first half, storming the Warriors with 33 points during the second quarter against UE's 16.  The Bulldogs even led as much as 24 during that period, but an Alvin Pasaol long trey cut UE's deficit before the buzzer, giving the Sampaloc-based squad a big 56-35 lead.

"It always feels good when you win. It's been a long time," NU head coach Jamike Jarin said after snapping their five-game losing skid.

NU's John Lloyd Clemente listed a career-high 21 points. "'Yung laro ko, dahil sa teammates ko kaya ko nakuha rhythm ko. Alam nilang mainit ako sa start pa lang eh," said Clemente.

Alvin Pasaol led the Warriors with 20 points, 14 of which were made during the first half.

UE and NU will see action next Wednesday, with the Warriors facing DLSU, and the Bulldogs playing against league leaders Adamson.

"You're facing one of the best college teams right now, we got our hands full right now but we've got three days to prepare," Jarin said.

NU now holds a 2-5 standing, while UE remains in the bottom of the standings with a win and six losses.

SCORES:

NU (88) - Clemente - 21, Ildefonso D - 14, Gaye - 12, Ildefonso S - 12, Rike - 6, Diputado - 4, Galinato - 4, Yu - 4, Aquino - 2, Joson - 2, Morido - 2, Salim - 2, Sinclair - 2, Tibayan - 1, Gallego - 0, Malonzo - 0.

UE (61) - Pasaol - 20, Conner - 15, Manalang - 10, Maloles - 5, Acuno - 4, Varilla - 3, Bartolome - 2, Beltran - 2, Cullar - 0, Gallardo - 0, Guion - 0, Lacap - 0, Sobrevega - 0, Strait - 0.

—LBG, GMA News