De La Salle University ended a three-game slump by out-executing University of the Philippines down the stretch, 87-82, to secure at least a playoff for a Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
With the Fighting Maroons leading 74-71, Jacob Cortez, who had been shooting 1-of-12 prior, made back-to-back baskets—a layup followed by a banked three-pointer—before Earl Abadam and Vhoris Marasigan added jumpers to give the Green Archers an 80-74 advantage with 1:49 remaining.
La Salle held that lead as UP failed to cut the deficit to a single possession, with four points the closest the Fighting Maroons could get. Marasigan, Cortez, and Abadam answered every time UP scored, keeping La Salle ahead.
“We’re coming off a three-game losing streak, we’re going through injuries, sickness, but what really transpired here was the team’s will to win, not giving up on every possession knowing that UP’s always gonna give us a good fight and gonna test us to the mettle,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
The Green Archers improved to 7-6, giving themselves a guaranteed playoff for a semifinals spot. They now set their sights on a Final Four berth when they face archrival Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday at the Big Dome.
Despite a shaky tournament, La Salle swept its head-to-head matchups against the defending champions, having also won their first-round encounter, 72-69.
“Nung first quarter nag-struggle rin ako. Ang dami kong open shots na na-miss pero sabi naman sa akin ni coach, tuloy ko lang ‘yung ginagawa ko para makatulong ako sa team," said Marasigan, who tallied 17 points, stepping up after EJ Gollena was ejected with 6.6 seconds left in the first quarter for a close-fist hit to Francis Nnoruka’s stomach.
"Nung second half, bumawi ako. Sabi ko sa sarili ko ‘ito na ‘yun’ kasi nung nawala si EJ, bumagsak din ‘yung kumpyansa ko eh. Sabi ko lang tutulungan ko ‘yung team ko,” he added.
The win also ended UP’s six-game winning streak, preventing the Fighting Maroons from sweeping the second round.
UP finished the eliminations at 10-4, securing the second seed, while National University will remain the top-ranked team regardless of its game against University of Santo Tomas tomorrow.
Mike Phillips had a huge game for La Salle, recording 21 points and 14 rebounds, including 14 points in the second quarter alone, helping the Green Archers recover from a slow start that saw UP surge to a 22-6 lead.
The performance was also a major bounce-back for the graduating big man after managing only seven points on 1-of-12 shooting in their previous game against Adamson University.
Abadam, who missed a potential game-winner against the Soaring Falcons, also contributed 14 points, while Cortez ended with 14 points and four rebounds, hitting the critical shots despite earlier struggles from the field.
Mason Amos returned after missing seven games due to an MCL tear sustained in their first-round clash with NU, recording three points, three rebounds, and three assists in 22 minutes and 18 seconds of play.
For UP, Rey Remogat led the charge with 25 points, eight assists, six rebounds, one steal, and one block, while Nnoruka added 14 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks but was ejected with 46.8 seconds remaining after a delaying-the-game technical foul on top of an earlier unsportsmanlike foul against Gollena in the first quarter.
Gerry Abadiano contributed 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Gani Stevens finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Scores:
DLSU (87) - Phillips 21, Marasigan 17, Abadam 14, Cortez 14, Dungo 8, Macalalag 6, Quines 4, Amos 3, Nwankwo 0, Pablo 0, Melencio 0, Gollena 0, Gomez 0.
UP (82) - Remogat 25, Nnoruka 14, Abadiano 12, Stevens 12, Alarcon 8, Palanca 7, Fortea 2, Belmonte 2, Bayla 0, Alter 0, Torres 0, Yñiguez 0.
Quarterscores: 15-26, 41-44, 59-58, 87-82.