ANTIPOLO – Far Eastern University pulled off a 47-44 win over National University in a highly-defensive game in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament last night at the Ynares Center here.

Ljay Gonzales scored the game’s biggest basket – a jumper in the final 17.6 seconds that gave the Tamaraws a three-point lead.

The Bulldogs tried to send the game into overtime but the Tamaraws made a huge defensive stop that forced Kean Baclaan to throw a three-pointer near the midcourt line and missed in the dying seconds.

With its second loss in seven games, NU dropped in a tie with Ateneo, which turned back University of the East, 91-76, in the first game, in second place.

The result also allowed defending champion University of the Philippines to become the first round topnotcher. The Fighting Maroons finished the round with a 6-1 record.

“Anything can happen in just one win,” said coach Olsen Racela after FEU secured its second straight victory after a 0-5 start.

It was a low-scoring affair, with both the Tamaraws and the Bulldogs failed to reach double-digits in the third period.

“It was a defensive game. We needed their defensive mindset against NU. Pabaaan ang score ang nangyari ngayon. Our defense gave us the chance really in this game. I just proud the way they played. Total team effort,” said Racela.

Coach Tab Baldwin is satisfied on the Blue Eagles’ first round showing despite some rough patches that they have encountered along the way.

“You know we are pretty comfortable from where we at,” said Baldwin. “Of course, we like to have a higher placing but two games we lost are competitive games and obviously, UP is the standard setter in the league right now. And La Salle, that’s a rivalry game. When you look at La Salle’s record now, I think that was a disappointing loss for us. While it is disappointing, when you put it in context, anything can happen in the La Salle-Ateneo game.”

In one of those patented third quarter breakaways, the Blue Eagles outscored the Red Warriors, 19-6, to open a 65-50 lead and never looked back to cap their first round with back-to-back victories.

“We played pretty good basketball today, especially in the second half,” said Baldwin. “We are getting better. We are growing. We are learning. That’s what was you supposed to do in the course of the season. Second round is gonna be competitive and challenging. But we feel good about where we at. We feel good on our team, and we are ready to go.”

In women’s play, Jhaz Joson produced another solid all-around game of 20 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and three steals while Nigerian Sarah Makanjoula had 17 points, 21 boards and seven blocks as Ateneo, bucking the absence of rookie Kacey Dela Rosa for the second straight game, ended its first round campaign in fourth place at 4-3 following a 73-62 romp of winless UE.

Dave Ildefonso came through with 20 points and four rebounds while Kai Ballungay had 14 points, including a slam dunk that gave the Blue Eagles their biggest lead of the game at 83-61.

Kyle Paranada and Harvey Pagsanjan each had 17 points for the Red Warriors, who kept the game close in the first half before floundering in the third period.

A big turnaround from its 0-14 campaign in the previous season, UE suddenly found itself in Final Four contention as the Recto-based squad is currently tied with Adamson and La Salle in fourth spot at 3-4.

Second round of the eliminations will begin on Saturday.

The scores:

First game (Women)

Ateneo (73) — Joson 20, Makanjoula 17, Miranda 14, Villacruz 13, Eufemiano 7, Calago 2, Nieves 0, Navarro 0, Peñaranda 0, Fetalvero 0, Angala 0, Cruza 0, Perez 0.
UE (62) — Terrinal 14, Anastacio 11, Kone 10, Caraig 9, Lorena 7, Nama 5, Paule 5, Sajol 1, Zamudio 0, Silva 0, Gervacio 0.
Quarterscores: 20-14, 36-29, 51-45, 73-62

Second game (Men)

Ateneo (91) — Ildefonso 20, Ballungay 14, Padrigao 11, Andrade 11, Kouame 8, Lazaro 6, Garcia 6, Fornilos 4, Gomez 3, Koon 2, Chiu 2, Quitevis 2, Daves 2, Fetalvero 0, Lao 0, Ong 0.
UE (76) — Pagsanjan 17, K. Paranada 17, Villegas 10, Stevens 8, Remogat 6, Payawal 5, Alcantara 4, Sawat 2, Beltran 0, Antiporda 0, Guevarra 0.
Quarterscores: 21-21, 46-44, 65-50, 91-76

Third game (Men)

FEU (47) — Sajonia 12, Gonzales 9, Bautista 9, Tchuente 6, Torres 6, Anonuevo 5, Alforque 0, Sleat 0, Sandagon 0, Tempra 0, Bagunu 0, Celzo 0.
NU (44) — John 9, Clemente 8, Figueroa 8, Baclaan 6, Manansala 5, Malonzo 4, Minerva 3, Enriquez 1, Yu 0, Mahinay 0, Galinato 0, Tibayan 0, Padrones 0.
Quarters: 12-16, 22-26, 31-33, 47-44.