By MARK REY MONTEJO
De La Salle University roared back from a 16-point deficit and beat University of the Philippines, 87-82, strengthen its grip for the No. 4 spot in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday, Nov. 22.
Trailing 22-6 in the opening frame, the Green Archers clawed their way back in the succeeding frames, turning what began as a one-sided battle into a nip-and-tuck affair before they unleashed a 14-4 blitz to seize an 85-78 lead in the waning seconds.
That run, led by Jacob Cortez, Vhoris Marasigan, and Earl Abadam proved to be enough to spoil the Fighting Maroons’ rally – capped by Gerry Abadiano’s triple – and six-game winning streak en route to the hard-fought victory that snapped La Salle’s three-game slide.
The Taft-based squad hiked its record to 7-6 to solidify its Final Four bid as it now just a game behind No. 3 University of Santo Tomas (7-5) and to further avert a log-jam for the fourth place as Far Eastern University (6-7), Adamson (6-7), and Ateneo (5-7) are still up in the semis race.
Meanwhile, reigning champion UP concluded its elimination run with a 10-4 card, which resulted in National University securing the top seed.
La Salle also swept its last year’s finals tormentor as it got the best out of the State U, 72-69, in their first-round encounter last Oct. 19.
It was a fitting victory as well, with Mason Amos, who had a quiet three-point, three-rebound, three-assist, and one-block output, finally returning to action after missing several games due to medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear he sustained in the Green Archers’ 78-82 setback to the Bulldogs last Oct. 12.
Marasigan, who sparked their assault, listed 17 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Abadam and Cortez chipped in 14 points apiece.
Also starring for the Topex Robinson-mentored crew was skipper Mike Phillips, who lifted La Salle prior to the triumvirate’s surge, as he collected 21 points, 14 rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Noy Remogat erupted with a season-high of 25 points plus six rebounds, eight assists, one block, and one steal, while Francis Nnoruka, who got ejected in the payoff period with technical and unsportsmanlike fouls, delivered 14 points.
Abadiano and Gani Stevens added 12 points each, while Harold Alarcon had eight in a losing cause.
The scores:
La Salle 87 – Phillips 21, Marasigan 17, Abadam 14, Cortez 14, Dungo 8, Macalalag 6, Quines 4, Amos 3, Nwankwo 0, Pablo 0, Melencio 0, Gollena 0, Gomez 0.
UP 82 – Remogat 25, Nnoruka 14, Abadiano 12, Stevens 12, Alarcon 8, Palanca 7, Fortea 2, Belmonte 2, Bayla 0, Alter 0, Torres 0, Yniguez 0.
Quarters: 15-26, 41-44, 59-58, 87-82.
