MANILA, Philippines – The FEU Tamaraws stored their slim Remaining 4 hopes alive within the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball event after eking out an exciting 84-83 escape over the La Salle Inexperienced Archers on the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, November 16.
Rookie massive man Kirby Mongcopa delivered the clutch go-ahead basket for FEU with 26.2 seconds left — which finally proved to be the game-winner — as La Salle’s JC Macalalag fell brief on his potential buzzer-beating triple from the left nook.
With the hard-earned win, the Tamaraws improved their file to 5-7 with solely two video games left of their elimination spherical schedule, whereas the Inexperienced Archers fell to a 6-5 card.
“We’re tremendous grateful to simply be on this stage and have the ability to be on this place,” stated FEU head coach Sean Chambers because the Tamaraws stay in a must-win scenario for an opportunity to make it to the postseason.
“We additionally wish to say La Salle is a championship group and after I left the home at the moment, I stored saying to myself we have now to beat one of many massive groups this event to ensure that us to lastly arrive,” he added.
Janrey Pasaol led the cost for the Tamaraws with 17 factors and seven assists, none larger than his artful lob move from backcourt which led to Mongcopa’s game-winning layup.
Previous to Mongcopa’s essential hit, La Salle appeared poised to return out with the victory after large back-to-back baskets by Luis Pablo within the ultimate two minutes of the tightly contested affair.
Mo Konateh backstopped Pasaol with 14 factors and 9 rebounds, Jorick Bautista poured in 12 markers, whereas Mongcopa completed with a stable all-around line of 10 factors, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Earl Abadam carried the combat for the Inexperienced Archers of their second straight setback with a game-high 18 factors, whereas Mike Phillips posted his regular monster double-double output of 14 markers and 19 boards.
La Salle’s struggles from the free throw line continued because the group shot simply 10-of-22 from the charity stripe, in comparison with FEU’s environment friendly 8-of-13 clip from the identical distance.
Within the second recreation, the UP Preventing Maroons formally punched their ticket to the Remaining 4 after overcoming a gutsy problem by the Adamson Hovering Falcons, 70-65.
Francis Nnoruka and Gerry Abadiano stepped up massive for the Preventing Maroons with 16 factors every, with the previous additionally hauling down 12 rebounds, as they joined the league-leading NU Bulldogs as the one groups assured of a semifinal spot.
With its fifth straight win, UP hiked its file to 9-3 and in addition prolonged its streak of Remaining 4 appearances to seven — the longest energetic streak within the league.
Except for Nnoruka and Abadiano, Reyland Torres additionally got here up large for the Preventing Maroons late, dropping 5 straight factors with below three minutes remaining to increase their result in 8, 65-57, with 2:02 to play.
Adamson managed to drag again inside simply 4 factors with 57 seconds left after a triple by Ray Allen Torres, 62-66, however Nnoruka instantly responded with a basket to seal the win for UP.
Torres paced the Hovering Falcons within the dropping trigger with a game-high 23 factors, whereas Matt Erolon chipped in 19.
The loss drops Adamson to a 5-7 file — tied with FEU on the sixth spot with solely two video games left to play.
The Scores
First Recreation
FEU 84 – Pasaol 17, Konateh 14, Bautista 12, Mongcopa 10, Daa 10, Felipe 9, Montemayor 7, Owens 5, Ona 0, Jones 0.
La Salle 83 – Abadam 18, Macalalag 14, Phillips 14, Pablo 11, Cortez 10, Nwankwo 4, Gollena 4, Dungo 4, Quines 2, Melencio 2.
Quarters: 16-19, 46-36, 67-64, 84-83.
Second Recreation
UP 70 – Nnrouka 16, Abadiano 16, Alarcon 8, Stevens 7, Torres 7, Fortea 5, Remogat 4, Bayla 4, Yñiguez 3, Alter 0, Belmonte 0, Palanca 0.
Adamson 65 – Torres 23, Erolon 19, Manzano 8, Montebon 8, Fransman 7, Anabo 0, Medina 0, Ojarikre 0, Perez 0, Tumaneng 0, A. Ronzone 0, C. Ronzone 0.
Quarters: 20-8, 36-27, 50-44, 70-65.
– Rappler.com
