Veteran guards Terrence Fortea and the returning Kean Baclaan share the highlight as UP edges UST for its fifth straight UAAP males’s basketball finals, whereas La Salle fends off top-ranked NU to power a do-or-die conflict
MANILA, Philippines – For the fifth straight season, the UP Preventing Maroons are again within the UAAP males’s basketball finals to defend their Season 87 crown after escaping and eliminating the gutsy UST Growling Tigers in a wild 82-81 end on the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, December 3.
Cool as ice, veteran sniper Terrence Fortea drained the life out of the Tigers’ fightback with a booming, go-ahead triple with 48 seconds left in regulation to set the ultimate rating, as UP ahead Francis Nnoruka blocked graduating star Nic Cabañero’s shot within the subsequent possession to cling on to the one-point lead.
Cabañero had one final take a look at a fadeaway jumper, however missed the go-ahead bucket and what can be his last UAAP shot as Harold Alarcon actually ran out the clock by sprinting across the courtroom to the delight of the UP devoted on the Massive Dome.
Ever-steady, Alarcon helped the Maroons climate the Tigers’ third-quarter rally with a team-high 22 factors in as many minutes, constructed on 6-of-16 capturing and 10-of-12 from the road.
Nnoruka bucked a third-quarter left leg damage to complete with 19 factors, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals, whereas the heroic Fortea added 8 factors and a game-high plus-minus of +15.
Cabañero ended his UAAP profession with a game-high 24 factors to go along with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of steals, whereas third-year ahead Gelo Crisostomo added 15 factors and seven boards in 21 minutes off the bench.
Graduating guards Forthsky Padrigao and Kyle Paranada mixed for simply 16 factors on a 5-of-23 clip as presumptive Rookie of the Yr and Finest International Scholar-Athlete Collins Akowe tallied an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double with 6 assists and three blocks in a heartbreaking finish to his freshman 12 months.
Baclaan returns wholesome; La Salle journeys NU for do-or-die
Earlier, the celebrities aligned for the La Salle Inexperienced Archers as they not solely bought star guard Kean Baclaan again in time for the Last 4, but in addition rolled previous the top-ranked NU Bulldogs with a 22-9 first-quarter romp on the best way to an 87-77 end to power a do-or-die bout on Saturday, December 6, nonetheless at Araneta.
In his first look after a prolonged eight-game absence to an MCL damage, Baclaan tallied 19 necessary minutes off the bench and completed with 6 factors and a pair of assists. In the meantime, his backcourt companion Jacob Cortez additionally made essentially the most of his 21-minute leash with a game-high 13 factors.
Captain Mike Phillips had one more enormous double-double of 12 factors and 17 rebounds to go along with 2 blocks and 1 steal, whereas the ever-clutch massive man Mason Amos added 8 factors, along with his two made threes coming throughout the last 4:22 of regulation.
Presumptive Legendary 5 member Jake Figueroa led all scorers within the sorry loss with 20 factors on 8-of-20 capturing, plus 10 rebounds and 4 assists, but in addition recorded 8 pricey turnovers, together with a number of errant passes within the final 4 minutes that might have helped NU’s last-ditch comeback try.
Omar John was the one different double-digit scorer for the shell-shocked Bulldogs with 12 factors and 5 rebounds as Steve Nash Enriquez and Jolo Manansala scored 8 apiece.
The Scores
First Sport
La Salle 87 – Cortez 13, Phillips 12, Gollena 11, Marasigan 10, Pablo 9, Macalalag 9, Amos 8, Abadam 6, Baclaan 6, Dungo 3, Nwankwo 0.
NU 77 – Figueroa 20, John 12, Enriquez 8, Manansala 8, Jumamoy 7, Francisco 6, Palacielo 6, Garcia 4, Santiago 2, Padrones 2, Parks 2, Dela Cruz 0, Tulabut 0.
Quarters: 28-17, 48-46, 67-54, 87-77.
Second Sport
UP 82 – Alarcon 22, Nnoruka 19, Remogat 9, Fortea 8, Abadiano 8, Torres 5, Stevens 5, Alter 4, Yñiguez 2, Felicilda 0, Bayla 0, Belmonte 0.
UST 81 – Cabañero 24, Crisostomo 15, Akowe 11, Paranada 10, Padrigao 6, Llemit 6, Acido 4, Buenaflor 4, Estacio 1, Laure 0.
Quarters: 19-11, 43-36, 69-62, 82-81.
– Rappler.com
