Never surrender: UP refuses to quit, escapes UST; La Salle survives
NOY Remogat and the UP Fighting Maroons refuse to give up, surviving with a 103-101 double overtime victory over the UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP Season 50 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday.
Photograph courtesy of UAAP
University of the Philippines (UP) completed an elimination sweep of University of Santo Tomas (UST) in a thrilling 103-101 double overtime victory to start the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament second round on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Fighting Maroons extended their winning streak to four and regained the solo lead after improving to a 6-2 win-loss record.
Veejay Pre took matters into his own hands, hitting back-to-back baskets to shatter a 98-98 count in the second extension before sinking an insurance free throw with 2.1 seconds left when UST closed in to within one. James Payosing sealed the win with a steal off an Amiel Acido inbound pass.
Pre finished with 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting and pulled down 16 rebounds, Chicco Briones scored 14 while Noy Remogat added 10 markers for UP.
Fighting Maroon Miguel Yniguez tied the first extension at 96 with 34 seconds remaining by draining two pressure-packed foul shots. UP had a chance to win it after Pre stole the ball from Mark Llemit but Jacob Bayla missed a triple.
The Fighting Maroons got the offensive board for another attempt with 1.5 seconds left, however, Pre was way off on his three-point attempt.
Trailing behind, 65-72, entering the final canto, the Fighting Maroons uncorked a 14-0 scoring blitz to build a seven-point lead with 4:12 left. UST finally bought a basket with 3:44 left.
A Remogat three-pointer pushed UP’s advantage to 84-76 with 2:01 remaining before the Tigers rallied with a closing 10-2 run capped by a Collins Akowe basket to knot it at 86 with seven second left. Remogat missed a potential game-winning trey at the buzzer.
UST dropped to a 4-4 mark and saw its back-to-back win streak snapped.
Llemit had 33 points while Akowe posted 23 markers and 18 boards for the Tigers.
In the first game, defending champion De La Salle University averted disaster despite an error-plagued outing by repelling upset-conscious University of the East (UE), 97-88, in overtime to halt a two-game slide.
The Green Archers showed great composure in the extension, even after losing four players to cramps and injuries, behind the heroics of Joaquin Tovera, Mason Amos and Earl Abadam in a decisive run that pulled La Salle out of trouble.
It was a much-needed victory for the Green Archers after a shaky first round as they improved to an even 4-4 record.
But La Salle will need to review its game against the winless Red Warriors after committing an atrocious 31 turnovers, including one late in regulation that gave UE a chance to force overtime.
The Green Archers gave away the Red Warriors 26 points off their miscues.
“Despite committing 31 turnovers, we still won,” a relieved La Salle assistant coach Oliver Bunyi said.
Amos led the Green Archers with 17 points and nine rebounds while Henry Agunnane chipped in 13 markers, seven boards and three blocks. JC Macalalag and Doy Dungo had 14 and 12 points before leaving the game in overtime due to cramps and injury, respectively.
Vhoris Marasigan went down with an injury after colliding with UE’s Toper Lagat with 29 seconds left in the game. La Salle also lost veteran guard Jacob Cortez with 3:27 mark in the second quarter after injuring his right leg on a drive attempt.