ONE team in Katipunan showed it can recover from a numbing loss, while the other’s inconsistencies resurfaced anew last night.
Proving steadier down the stretch, defending champion University of the Philippines carved out a thrilling 76-71 victory over Ateneo and gained a share of the lead in the 85th UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Six-foot-11 Senegalese import Malick Diouf and Terrence Fortea split their four free throws that gave the Fighting Maroons a 73-68 buffer with 32.1 seconds left in OT.
But Forthsky Padrigao boomed in a three-pointer that pulled the Blue Eagles to within 71-73 with 23.4 ticks to go before Carl Tamayo canned a freebie that made it a 74-71 game.
Diouf sealed UP’s big win with a foul shot after a missed triple try by Kai Ballungay.
Tamayo scattered 20 points he laced with 13 rebounds and three assists for UP, while James Spencer chipped in 14 markers and six boards.
Diouf and Zavier Lucero also had 12 and 10 points, respectively for the Maroons, who atoned a stunning 75-80 setback to National University five days ago and hiked their mark to 4-1 in a tie with the Bulldogs.
Ateneo, coming off a 79-52 thumping of University of Santo Tomas last Wednesday, fell to 3-2.
UP coach Goldwin Monteverde gave his charges plaudits for showing resolve against their finals foes last season.
“Well, I believe today that we played better as a team. We moved the ball well. We really tried to work on, especially iyong offense namin,” Monteverde said.
“Today we really got tested sa game and ang maganda roon the whole team just stayed together. They did their best to execute on both ends,” he added.
Earlier, University of the East turned back University of Santo Tomas 78-68 for its second straight win.
Luis Villegas showed the way for the Red Warriors with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds, on top of six assists, and three steals, while Nikko Paranada also had 17 markers and six boards.
Jojo Antiporda and Gani Stevens also did their share with 13 and 11 points, respectively for UE, which scored a fitting follow-up to its 81-74 shocker over La Salle last Wednesday and improved to 3-2 in a tie with the Green Archers and Ateneo at third.
The Growling Tigers absorbed their fourth straight loss and reeled to a 1-4 slate.
“Hindi ako makapaniwala but anyway, I want to congratulate all my boys,” UE tactician Jack Santiago said. “It’s really a team effort especially iyong guys like Harvey (Pagsanjan) and (Jojo) Antiporda na for the last four games medyo talagang their struggling.”
“I’m so happy that nagising na sila and really it’s a team effort.”
The Maroons fell 33-38 at the halfway mark and 53-54 heading into the final stanza.
Dave Ildefonso scored 22 points and hauled down 12 rebounds for the Eagles, while Padrigao and 6-foot-11 naturalized Filipino center Ange Kouame had 15 and 10 markers, respectively.
The Warriors trailed 28-29 at the half but grabbed a 55-49 upper hand going into the payoff period.
UST’s Adama Faye was slapped with a disqualifying foul at the 2:01 mark of the third period hitting Harvey Pagsanjan with an elbow on the jaw during a loose ball battle.
Nic Cabañero paced the Tigers with 19 points and four rebounds, while Ivan Lazarte and Faye got 12 and 11, respectively.
