Ice-cold Harold

Games Saturday:

(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)

2 p.m. — UP vs UE

4:30 p.m. — NU vs Adamson

Harold Alarcon willed reigning champion University of the Philippines to an 89-88 nail-biter of a win over stunned University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The graduating star took matters into his own hands, scoring the Fighting Maroons’ last eight points of the game, punctuated by the game-winning turnaround jumper over the outstretched hand of Mark Llemit with 24.3 seconds left for the last lead-change.

UP collected its third straight win for a 7-3 win-loss record behind league-leading National University (8-2) and avenged its 20-point loss to the Tigers in the season-opener.     

“In that possession, I just stayed present. Whatever happens, I’ll take the shot. That’s my mindset: I’ll take that shot, whatever defense (UST) will give me,” said Alarcon, who scored 10 of his 22 points in the final canto.

Alarcon, who shot 9-of-18 from the field, also grabbed five rebounds, dished out four assists and had three steals for the Fighting Maroons, who sent the Tigers to their fourth straight loss. 

Noy Remogat had 19 markers and Miguel Yniguez had 11 points.  

UST fell to a 5-5 record despite the 26 points and 16 rebounds of Collins Akowe, who lost the ball in the Tigers’ final possession for a potential game-winner.

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University clawed its way out of an 11-point hole and completed a 78-74 come-from-behind win over also-ran University of the East (UE) to halt a five-game.

Divine Adili returned from a three-game absence due to back issues and dropped a double-double 15 points and 13 rebounds to power the Blue Eagles back into the win column, ending a turbulent month of losing woes.

Ateneo improved to a 5-5 win-loss record and booted out the still winless Red Warriors after 10 starts in the Final Four race.

“I feel really excited to be back. I’ve been itching to get back, and I got the opportunity today. I’m just going to keep looking to get 100 percent healthy, do my rehab, and control what I can control,” said the Nigerian center, who has been dealing with a back injury since the start of the season.

The Blue Eagles blasted an 18-7 closing barrage to cop their first win in exactly a month after they beat archrival De La Salle University, 81-74, on 5 October.

Ateneo’s victory gave the team some measure of momentum heading into Sunday’s rematch against the Green Archers.

Kymani Ladi had 16 markers and nine boards while Ian Espinosa scored 13 points, capped by a pair of crucial free throws that gave Ateneo a four-point lead in the last 10.7 seconds.

Dom Escobar added 11 markers for Ateneo, which climbed to a tie with Adamson University in fifth to sixth spot.

Down, 60-67, early in the payoff period, Adili sparked the Blue Eagles’ comeback and scored the go-ahead basket, 72-71, with 3:46 left.

UE regained the lead after John Abate completed a three-point play on the other end, 74-72. Two free throws by Espinosa and two splits from the line by Adili put Ateneo back in front.

Red Warriors captain Wello Lingolingo, who returned from a three-game suspension, missed his three-point attempt as Espinosa went to the line after Precious Momowei was forced to commit a duty foul that was eventually elevated to an unsportsmanlike infraction.

Espinosa missed both his free throws before hitting his next two charities in Ateneo’s extra possession to secure the win.

The Blue Eagles went behind, 52-63, with under two minutes left in the third quarter after an Abate split from the line.

Momowei fired 19 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, Lingolingo got 19 markers and Abate scored 18 before fouling out with 1:20 left in the game for UE.

The Red Warriors last tasted victory in Season 87 — a 74-58 rout of National University back on 26 October 2024.