The DLSU Green Archers found a way to escape with Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 Finals, even after trailing the UP Fighting Maroons by as many as seven points with 2:46 left in the match.
The UAAP Season 87 title was seemingly in the UP Fighting Maroons’ hands after leading 73-66 with just 2:46 left in Game 2.
But then Mike Phillips and Kevin Quiambao suddenly erupted for De La Salle.
Phillips scored a hook shot to cut the lead to five, before Quiambao’s three-point basket brought the Green Archers to within two at 71-73.
The reigning back-to-back MVP, however, was not finished. The 23-year-old point-forward hit the go-ahead triple to give La Salle the lead with 1:46 left in the game.
On the other end, Quentin Millora-Brown returned the lead to the Fighting Maroons. But coming right back was Phillips who scored underneath for La Salle.
The top-2 teams of the UAAP then saw both of their stars miss all of their free throws in the final minute, with Francis Lopez missing all four, KQ missing two, and Phillips missing two as well.
Gerry Abadiano had one last shot in the corner but missed—as La Salle escaped with a 76-75 win, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3.
“When we were down and out, these guys just told everybody, ‘Just don’t give up. Just keep playing.’ I guess we just made the necessary stops in the endgame and gave us the opportunity to connect from outside,” coach Topex Robinson said during the post-game press conference.
“I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what transpired but we’re so grateful that we get to see another day and get play another game of championship,” he added.
Even Phillips couldn’t believe what had just transpired, bearing all his emotions after the match.
“God man. God is so good. Not just because we won, it’s because God has been there for the highs and lows,” Phillips, who had a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.
But if there’s one thing the La Salle held on to during the match—it was the team’s defense.
“If our offense is struggling, I think they say walang malas sa defense because it’s all about effort,” said Phillips. “We just wanted to come out and give all our effort, try to set the tone for our other teammates. It was really a five-man process.”
Quiambao finished with 22 points, 11 of which came in the final frame, to spark the comeback. The MVP also had nine boards and two dimes.
EJ Gollena and JC Macalalag had nine each, while Raven Gonzales added eight markers for La Salle.
Lopez, Abadiano, and JD Cagulangan all had 16 points in the heartbreaking loss for UP. Game 1 hero Millora-Brown contributed 11 points and eight rebounds for the Fighting Maroons.
Game 3 is set on Sunday, December 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Scores:
DLSU 76 - Quiambao 22, Phillips 18, Gollena 9, Macalalag 9, Gonzales 8, Austria 5, David 3, Agunanne 2, Marasigan 0, Ramiro 0, Rubico 0.
UP 75 - Cagulangan 16, Lopez 16, Abadiano 16, Millora-Brown 11, Torres 5, Alarcon 5, Torculas 2, Ududo 2, Stevens 2, Felicilda 0, Bayla 0, Fortea 0.
Quarterscores: 28-22, 39-36, 54-62, 76-75.