Damage-plagued La Salle defies odds, stuns UP in finals rematch to drive 3-way tie 

Regardless of lacking injured stars Kean Baclaan and Mason Amos, the La Salle Inexperienced Archers pull off an exhilarating upset of defending champion UP Combating Maroons to arrange a three-way tie at third place on the finish of the primary spherical

MANILA, Philippines – No Kean Baclaan and Mason Amos, no drawback for the La Salle Inexperienced Archers. 

Regardless of lacking their injured stars, the Inexperienced Archers prevailed in a extremely anticipated finals rematch over defending champion UP Combating Maroons with a nail-biting 72-69 escape within the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball match on the packed Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, October 19. 

La Salle ahead Vhoris Marasigan delivered the clutch go-ahead putback layup with 47.5 seconds remaining, whereas Mike Phillips settled the ultimate rating with a free throw as UP’s Chico Briones fell quick on his potential game-tying trey within the dying seconds.

With the hard-earned victory, the shorthanded Inexperienced Archers compelled a three-way tie with the Combating Maroons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles on the No. 3 spot with equivalent 4-3 information — behind shock leaders NU (6-1) and UST (5-2).

“Sure, no Kean, no Mason, but in addition no excuses,” mentioned La Salle head coach Topex Robinson because the Inexperienced Archers performed their first recreation with out each Baclaan and Amos, who’re out with equivalent MCL accidents they sustained the previous week.

“We all know that we’re going to be up towards the defending champions and it’s at all times going to be a check of character. We at all times discuss turning into higher individuals, higher Archers, so it [was a] character recreation for us,” he added. 

Taking part in towards his former faculty for the primary time, ex-Combating Maroons massive man Luis Pablo proved to be the unlikely hero for the Inexperienced Archers, stepping up enormous within the absence of Amos with a game-high 14 factors on 6-of-13 capturing, 6 rebounds, 1 help, 1 steal, and 1 block. 

Phillips posted his common numbers of 12 factors, 19 rebounds, and 5 assists, whereas Jacob Cortez and EJ Gollena additionally scored 12 factors every for the Inexperienced Archers.

Like Pablo, Earl Abadam rose to the event for La Salle with 9 factors, together with the cold-blooded three-pointer plus the foul on the 1:12 mark of the fourth to tie issues up at 69-all after Terrence Fortea knocked down a booming trey the possession prior. 

Abadam failed to finish the uncommon four-point play that may have put La Salle within the driver’s seat, however Marasigan transformed on the go-ahead putback a couple of seconds later.

UP had two alternatives to tie the sport at 71-all, however Gani Stevens and Francis Nnoruka didn’t convert on their respective layups.

The Combating Maroons had one closing likelihood to probably ship the sport into extra time, however Briones likewise missed on his game-tying try. 

4 gamers additionally scored in double figures for UP, with Harold Alarcon main the cost with 13 factors, together with 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and a couple of steals.

Gerry Abadiano, Nnoruka, and Terrence Fortea backed up Alarcon’s all-around efficiency with 12 factors apiece. 

The Scores

La Salle 72 – Pablo 14, Cortez 12, Phillips 12, Gollena 12, Abadam 9, Marasigan 5, Dungo 4, Daep 2, Macalalag 1, Nwankwo 1.

UP 69 – Alarcon 13, Abadiano 12, Nnoruka 12, Fortea 12, Remogat 7, Stevens 4, Bayla 2, Torres 2, Belmonte 2, Alter 2, Palanca 1, Yniguez 0, Briones 0.

Quarters: 20-27, 46-41, 57-60, 72-69.

– Rappler.com