MANILA, Philippines – UP’s clutch genes rose when it mattered most, propelling the Preventing Maroons to a different twice-to-beat edge.
The Maroons used a fiery fourth-quarter storm to take down the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 79-75, to safe the final Last 4 benefit of the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball event on Wednesday, November 19.
Down 54-48 after three quarters, UP went on a 12-4 begin within the fourth interval, punctuated by a Gerry Abadiano jumper, to take a 60-58 lead and by no means look again.
Abadiano scored 16 of his 18 factors within the last interval, steering the Maroons to a rousing endgame run en path to the win.
UP could have a twice-to-beat bonus for the sixth straight season after enhancing to 10-3 with yet one more recreation left of their elimination marketing campaign.
“Securing the twice-to-beat benefit is large for us,” UP head coach Goldwin Moteverde stated because the Maroons joined the NU Bulldogs within the high two.
“Seeing the staff bounce again from the primary half, the place I consider we lacked vitality, in the direction of the second half gave the entire staff vitality. So, we simply need to maintain being constant.”
Francis Nnoruka added 17 factors, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks for UP, whereas Jacob Bayla and Harold Alarcon every had 8 markers.
UP dominated on the boards, outrebounding Ateneo, 51-37, whereas scoring 23 second-chance factors in opposition to the Blue Eagles’ 10.
Ateneo began out sizzling, main by as many as 16 factors, 23-7, early within the second quarter, earlier than UP went on to chip away on the Blue Eagles’ lead the remainder of the way in which.
“Even when we had challenges within the first half and so they led by quite a bit, we simply thought to maintain enjoying and carry on pounding,” Abadiano stated.
Jared Bahay held the fort for the Blue Eagles with 21 factors constructed on 5 triples, whereas Kymani Ladi contributed 17 markers and eight rebounds within the shedding effort.
Earlier within the day, the Adamson Hovering Falcons saved their Last 4 hopes alive after escaping the La Salle Inexperienced Archers, 61-60.
Adamson improved to 6-7 to rise to the fifth seed of the standings, whereas La Salle dropped to 6-6 however stayed within the fourth spot after Ateneo’s loss.
With Adamson main 61-57 with underneath 30 seconds remaining, La Salle’s Earl Abadam drained a fast triple following the Falcons’ turnover within the backcourt to push the Archers inside one level, 61-60.
After one other Adamson turnover, Abadam once more had a shot for the win within the last seconds however missed the three-pointer handy the Falcons an all-important win.
Matt Erolon led Adamson with 18 factors after draining all 5 of the Falcons’ three-pointers within the recreation. Cedrick Manzano added 15 factors and 9 rebounds to anchor the paint for the Falcons.
Vhoris Marasigan, who returned from a one-game suspension because of a disqualifying foul in opposition to the NU Bulldogs, notched 15 markers to high the scoring for La Salle, whereas EJ Gollena chipped in 10 factors in 19 minutes.
Mike Phillips struggled all through the sport, solely posting 7 factors on 1-of-11 field-goal taking pictures on high of 15 rebounds.
The win snapped Adamson’s three-game shedding skid whereas extending La Salle’s shedding streak to a few video games.
“We’re simply pleased to nonetheless be in it. We made it clear within the dugout that if you wish to keep alive, you actually don’t have any alternative however to win,” Adamson head coach Nash Racela stated. “We stated, ultimately, all of it comes all the way down to who desires it extra.”
The Falcons will subsequent face the Blue Eagles on Sunday of their last recreation of the elimination spherical. In the meantime, La Salle will tackle UP on Saturday.
The Scores
First Recreation
Adamson 61 – Erolon 18, Manzano 15, Montebon 10, Fransman 7, Torres 6, Anabo 3, Ojarikre 2, Medina 0, A. Ronzone 0, Perez 0, Jaymalin 0, C. Ronzone 0, Demisana 0, Barcelona 0.
La Salle 60 – Marasigan 15, Gollena 10, Macalalag 8, Phillips 7, Pablo 7, Cortez 5, Abadam 5, Dungo 3, Nwankwo 0, Gomez 0.
Quarters: 17-16, 35-31, 45-50, 61-60.
Second Recreation
UP 79 – Abadiano 18, Nnrouka 17, Bayla 8, Alarcon 8, Alter 7, Torres 7, Remogat 6, Stevens 6, Fortea 2, Yñiguez 0, Belmonte 0, Felicilda 0.
Ateneo 75 – Bahay 21, Ladi 17, Tuano 10, Espinosa 8, Adili 7, Escobar 6, Espina 4, Lazaro 2, Bongo 0, Lazo 0.
Quarters: 7-21, 29-38, 48-54, 79-75.
– Rappler.com
