I mentioned to the guys that we’re not just fighting for the position but for our survival as well.

UP’s Bright Akhuetie (left) battles for the loose ball against La Salle’s Jamie Malonzo and Justine Baltazar. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG

ANTIPOLO CITY — University of the Philippines (UP) blew a double-digit but unleashed a spirited comeback to hack out a 71-68 win over De La Salle University in Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament last night here at the Ynares Center.

The win gave the Fighting Maroons their first twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four era after clinching the No. 2 spot with a 9-4 mark and ousted the Green Archers in the semis race as they fell to 6-7.

UP’s win also sealed the Final Four cast with Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST), both holding identical 8-6 slates, moving forward to the next stage.

“There were ups and downs and we’re playing against La Salle. I mentioned to the guys that we’re not just fighting for the position but for our survival as well,” UP head coach Bo Perasol said.

“I just have to give credit to them for just being warriors,” he added.

Nigerian center Bright Akhuetie led UP with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Ricci Rivero added 12 markers and five boards.

Kobe Paras, UP’s leading scorer, was held down to just 10 markers but his dunk gave the Fighting Maroons a 70-68 with 1:26 remaining.

La Salle came up empty in their next possessions and Jun Manzo split his free throws, 71-68, as the Green Archers bowed out of the semis race for the second straight season.

Jamie Malonzo led the Taft-based team with 17 points and 11 rebounds and along with Aljun Melecio were responsible in a scintillating 21-0 run to turn a 11-27 deficit into a 32-27 advantage before UP answered with its own 8-2 blast to restore order, 35-34.

Meanwhile, the Tamaraws secured their Final Four ticket after drubbing University of the East (UE) in the first game, 82-58, with Wendell Comboy scoring a team-high 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field while rookie Royce Alforque adding 13 points in just 17 minutes of play.

“Well, who would have thought that we were making it to the Final Four. No one believed in us except from the people who are on the circle,” said Tamaraws head coach Olsen Racela.

“Our goal each year is to make it to the Final Four and now that we’ve achieved the first goal, we move on to the next one,” he added.

After a 3-4 mark in the first round, FEU finished the second round with a 5-2 record for an 8-6 slate overall for its seventh straight Final Four appearance.

After a slim 15-14 lead in the first period, Comboy, Alforque and LJ Gonzales joined forces and outscored the Red Warriors in the second quarter, 25-12, to carry a 40-26 advantage going to the break.

FEU never relinquished that lead as UE absorbed its 10th loss in 13 games for seventh spot.

Rey Suerte led the Red Warriors with 16 points, 11 rebounds and five steals while six-foot-nine Senegalese big man Alex Diakhite also had a double-double performance of 13 points and 10 boards.