Semis spot cemented

Games Sunday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

1 p.m. — UP vs UST

4 p.m. — NU vs La Salle

Jacob Cortez did not shy away from taking over for De La Salle University under the bright lights of a match with such magnitude against no less than archrival Ateneo de Manila University.

When the Green Archers needed a spark to start an uprising from 11 points down, the calm and composed guard delivered big-time buckets as La Salle completed the Final Four cast with a 78-72 victory over the Blue Eagles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

La Salle shattered a 72-72 deadlock with a closing 6-0 run to close the elimination round with an 8-6 win-loss record tied with University of Santo Tomas.

The Green Archers, however, stayed at No. 4 spot to face top seed and twice-to-beat National University in the Final Four starting Sunday at the same Cubao venue. The Tigers, on the other hand, challenge No. 2-seeded twice-to-beat reigning champion University of the Philippines.

Cortez, son of former La Salle champion court general, Mike, finished with 20 points — 13 in the fourth quarter — dished out seven assists with three rebounds and a crucial endgame steal.

Mike Phillips added a double-double of 13 markers and 16 boards while Vhoris Marasigan had 12 points before his ejection in the last 2:34 of the game after committing two technical fouls.

The Blue Eagles seemed in control of the game after erecting 58-47 advantage with 2:02 left in the third. La Salle entered the final period trailing by four but unleashed a decisive 14-5 blitz with nine straight coming from Cortez alone for a 70-65 lead with four minutes left in the game.

Waki Espina tied it at 72 for Ateneo but Phillips put La Salle back on top with a putback and Cortez intercepted Jared Bahay’s pass on the other end and drilled a dagger long jumper with 12.4 seconds left. Phillips stole the inbound pass in Ateneo’s next possession before nailing two charities for the final count with 10.9 seconds left.

The Green Archers’ victory also dashed the semis dreams of Far Eastern University (FEU), which for a good two hours or so kept its fingers crossed for a possible playoff for the last ticket to the next round only to be disappointed in the end.

Dom Escobar led the Blue Eagles, who finished with a 6-8 mark tied with Adamson University, with 18 points, Kymani Ladi got 13 markers while Divine Adili scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds before fouling out with 1:28 left in the game.

Meanwhile, the Tamaraws played with fire and almost got burned before escaping with an 81-79 victory over Final Four-bound University of Santo Tomas to finish their season with an even 7-7 record.

FEU improved by two wins compared to its output last year, albeit by missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

The Tamaraws had a serious scare in the second half after leading by as many as 23 in the second canto.

Tigers rookie center Collins Akowe, Gelo Crisostomo, and Nic Cabañero anchored a 14–3 rally in the fourth quarter that pushed UST within four, 76–80, with 33.9 seconds left.

Janrey Pasaol split his free throws on the end but Crisostomo cleaned up a Cabañero miss to bring the Tigers’ deficit to just 80–77.