Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) – The De La Salle University Green Archers escaped a late-game surge by the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to score a thrilling 83-80 win and force a decider in their UAAP Season 84 Final Four matchup on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The win enabled the Taft-based cagers to accomplish half of their mission against the Maroons, which enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage and just stopped top seed Ateneo De Manila University’s 39-game winning streak last Sunday.
Evan Nelle performed an all-around game for La Salle with 26 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in the crucial win. The former San Beda Red Lion also shot five out of the Archers’ 10 triples in the game.
The Archers flaunted their strength in the first half as they shot 49% from the floor and held off the Maroons to only 27% shooting.
The La Salle onslaught stretched into the third canto, with their fine shooting taking advantage of UP’s offensive woes.
Under the last two minutes of the game, the Archers are holding a comfortable 10-point lead when UP suddenly breathed back into life with rookie guard Gerry Abadiano and center Malick Diouf converting baskets to close the gap to a single digit.
Abadiano hit a clutch triple in the final 12 seconds of the match to lower the Maroons’ deficit to only three points, 78-81. Abadiano’s shot came after La Salle forward Balti Baltazar muffed his two charities in the previous possession.
Nelle split his free-throws in his two trips to the charity stripe as former Archer Ricci Rivero missed a crucial trey in the final six seconds of the contest.
“The boys played 40 minutes of solid basketball. It was a disciplined effort and everyone was on the same page today,” said La Salle head coaach Derrick Pumaren.
Baltazar also contributed for La Salle a double-double game of 15 points and 18 rebounds, while Kurt Lojera added 11 markers.
Diouf and Rivero led UP with 18 points apiece, with the dominant big man adding 20 rebounds and three blocks in the loss. Zavier Lucero chipped in 17 points and two blocks for the Maroons.
La Salle and UP will collide in a do-or-die semifinals battle on Friday at the same venue.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 83 – Nelle 26, Baltazar 15, Lojera 11, M. Phillips 7, Austria 7, Winston 7, Nwankwo 4, Nonoy 3, Manuel 3, B. Phillips 0.
UP 80 – Diouf 18, Rivero 18, Lucero 17, Tamayo 8, Abadiano 7, Cagulangan 6, Spencer 3, Alarcon 3, Ramos 0, Fortea 0, Webb 0, Lina 0.
Quarterscores: 24-16, 48-37, 66-55, 83-80.
