LA Salle got back at University of the Philippines and stayed in the hunt for a coveted top two finish that will be rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four last night.
With MVP contender Kevin Quiambao showing the way, the Green Archers turned back the Fighting Maroons 88-79 for their fourth straight win in the 86th UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
In front of 13,469 fans, the 6-foot-7 Quiambao wound up with a game-high 22 points, on top of 12 rebounds and two assists while Evan Nelle backed him up with 17 markers, four boards, and six dimes.
Mike Phillips, Jonnel Policarpio, and Francis Escandor also had 15, 11, and 11 points, respectively, as the wards of coach Topex Robinson scored a fitting follow up to an 88-78 victory over National University nine days back and rose to 7-3 for solo third.
UP came off a 65-60 decision over reigning champion Ateneo last Oct. 29 and absorbed only its second setback of the season for an 8-2 mark.
The Maroons edged the Archers 67-64 in their first-round tiff last Oct. 18.
Earlier, University of the East nipped Far Eastern University 87-86 in overtime to keep alive its semifinals hopes.
Noy Remogat uncorked a season-high 34 points, to go with six rebounds and eight assists for the Red Warriors, while Abdul Sawat chipped in 20 markers, six boards, and five dimes.
UE did an encore to an 86-73 drubbing of University of Santo Tomas last Oct. 28 and improved to 4-6 in a tie with the Blue Eagles for fifth.
The Tamaraws, coming off a 54-63 loss to the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, dropped to 3-7 for seventh.
The Warriors also downed FEU 65-58 when they first met last Oct. 7.
“Hindi naman tayo perpekto but at least the players are not giving up. They didn’t give up. Just imagine, they scored 14 (points) in the overtime, we scored 15 (points),” UE tactician Jack Santiago said.
“But iyong nine points na iyon coming off sa last 45 seconds. Just imagine, we held them down 4:15 ng na-score lang nila mga five points lang sila.”
Jorick Bautista paced the Tams with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while L-Jay Gonzales contributed 18 markers and 10 caroms.
Xyrus Torres and Patrick Sleat also had 12 and 11 points, respectively for FEU.
Cholo Anonuevo marked his return to the Tams with 10 and seven.
CJ Cansino carried the fight for the Maroons with 20 points and five caroms, while Janjan Felicilda added 13 markers and nine rebounds.
Harold Alarcon also got 10 points for UP.