UE Red Warriors bag third straight win against NU Bulldogs

The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors secured their third consecutive victory in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament by defeating the National University (NU) Bulldogs with a score of 57-51.

This win marks the first time since 2014 that the Red Warriors have achieved three straight wins, improving their record to 3-2.

UE implemented a tight zone defense after halftime, limiting the Bulldogs to just 16 points in the second half.

Key offensive plays included Wello Lingolingo's dagger three-pointer with 41.4 seconds left, extending UE's lead to 53-49, and his subsequent foul shots that pushed the lead to 55-51.

Lingolingo, who scored 5 of his 8 points down the stretch, expressed gratitude for hitting his shots during the crucial part of the game after facing tight defense.

John Abate led UE with 15 points and six rebounds, while Precious Momowei contributed significantly with 20 rebounds and an assist to Lingolingo's clutch three-pointer.

UE's win places them at solo fourth in the standings, behind UP, La Salle, and UST.

Head coach Jack Santiago is observing character improvement in his players, as the team aims for a playoff appearance, something they haven't achieved since reaching the finals in 2009.