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MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final Four race just shifted to another gear as the UP Fighting Maroons avenged their first-round blowout loss to UST by escaping the reeling Growling Tigers this time with an 89-88 heist at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, November 5.
With the win, the defending champions are now 7-3 in the standings, only trailing the top-ranked NU Bulldogs at 8-2. The complication arises, however, on the other side of the equation, as UST suffered its fourth straight loss on the way to a 5-5 record, tying resurgent Adamson and Ateneo at fourth.
Before the UP-UST thriller, the Blue Eagles also pulled off an escape of their own, eliminating the lowly UE Red Warriors from the Final Four race off a 78-74 squeaker.
Graduating guard Harold Alarcon once again saved the Fighting Maroons in the clutch, draining tough shot after tough shot for a team-high 22 points, the last two coming off a silky turnaround mid-range jumper that set the final score with 24.6 seconds left.
Alarcon also scattered 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals — the last pilfer coming in the final two seconds as UST star rookie Collins Akowe lost the ball after two offensive rebounds and time expired.
Noy Remogat backstopped Alarcon’s scoring effort with 19 points, 3 boards, 3 dimes, and 2 steals.
In contrast, the losing side of the stat sheet shows glaring numbers as Akowe shot 10-of-20 from the free-throw line, offsetting an otherwise great line of 26 points and 16 rebounds.
As a team, UST shot an abysmal 28-of-52 from the line, losing out on 24 potential points in the one-point defeat.
Nic Cabañero added 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, but also missed his fair share of charities with a 3-of-6 clip from the line.
Ateneo sends UE to 16th straight loss
Meanwhile, Ateneo prevailed as UE sank to its 16th straight loss, dating back to when it stood proud with a 6-3 record in Season 87 — a win away from last year’s Final Four.
One-and-done forward Kymani Ladi got his groove back after multiple quiet performances with 16 points on an aggressive 7-of-16 shooting to go with 9 rebounds, while foreign student-athlete Divine Adili made his much-needed return from a three-game back injury layoff with a 15-point, 13-board line.
Streaky guard Ian Espinosa scored 13 while burly forward Dom Escobar added 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals to help the Blue Eagles regain their footing in the thrilling Final Four race.
Meanwhile, veteran sniper Wello Lingolingo returned from a three-game suspension after playing a role in the injury of La Salle star guard Kean Baclaan, and led the losing cause with a game-high 19 points on a 4-of-14 clip from three.
Star center Precious Momowei likewise scored 19 with 18 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal as the Red Warriors again fell out of Final Four contention with a 0-10 record.
The Scores
FIRST GAME
Ateneo 78 – Ladi 16, Adili 15, Espinosa 13, Escobar 11, Tuano 9, Espina 7, Lazaro 4, Bongo 3, Bahay 0, Lazo 0, Fjellvang 0.
UE 74 – Momowei 19, Lingolingo 19, Abate 18, Despi 8, Datumalim 6, Robles 2, Cruz-Dumont 2, Caoile 0, Lagat 0, Malaga 0.
Quarters: 18-21, 39-40, 57-64, 78-74.
SECOND GAME
UP 89 – Alarcon 22, Remogat 19, Yñiguez 11, Belmonte 9, Nnoruka 6, Palanca 5, Stevens 5, Bayla 4, Fortea 4, Abadiano 2, Torres 2, Alter 0, Briones 0.
UST 88 – Akowe 26, Cabañero 18, Acido 10, Buenaflor 9, Paranada 8, Llemit 8, Estacio 5, Padrigao 2, Crisostomo 2, Laure 0, Calum 0, Danting 0.
Quarters: 21-26, 45-47, 68-63, 89-83.
– Rappler.com
