UP survives La Salle to reclaim UAAP men's basketball crown

The UP Fighting Maroons are once again kings of UAAP basketball.

In front of a crowd of 25,248, University of the Philippines survived De La Salle University, 66-62, in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball finals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

This is UP's fourth overall title in men's basketball.

UP had a 14-point lead, 54-40, around the halfway mark of the third period before CJ Austria drilled a triple to start La Salle's comeback attempt as the third quarter closed, 56-50, still on UP's favor.

La Salle was actually within reach of a possible comeback as the Green Archers opened the final frame with a 6-0 run to tie the game. Quentin Millora-Brown (QMB) broke the ice for Diliman, while Josh David tied anew the game.

JD Cagulangan then connected from beyond the arc to give UP a 61-58 lead at the 6:53 mark. 

It would be the last time a basket would be made as the game almost had five minutes of scoring drought.

Then, crunch time.

At the 1:34 mark, Lian Ramiro put up a basket to put La Salle within one and give a glimmer of hope to the Taft-based squad. However, Francis Lopez answered with a triple to give the Fighting Maroons a 64-61 lead.

EJ Gollena then made a jumper with 44 seconds left, before Cagulangan missed his jumper.

A foul by Mike Phillips on QMB put the latter on the line where he sank his free throws which sealed the win.

“I want to thank God for this one. 'Yung preparation ang pinakaimportante sa amin. Siyempre, 'yung sakit ng two years, ginawa naming motivation. No matter how hard it is to prepare, nilaban namin,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.

“It was tough, especially with a team like La Salle. They have a strong program. Nung natalo kami nung elimination round, we needed to take away the doubt. 'Yung belief namin sa sarili namin, binalik namin,” he added.

UP's one-and-done player QMB had 14 points, 10 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block, while Lopez had 12 points, 11 boards, six assists, one steal, and one block.

Phillips had 18 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block, while Quiambao had 13 points and four rebounds for the Green Archers.

UP finished the elimination round second with an 11-3 record behind La Salle who had a 12-1 win-loss card. UP then defeated University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four, 78-69, to advance to the finals.

In Game 1 of the finals, UP beat La Salle, 73-65, while the latter equalized, 76-75, in Game 2 to force the decider.

Scores:

UP 66 – Millora-Brown 14, Lopez 12, Cagulangan 12, Abadiano 9, Alarcon 7, Fortea 4, Stevens 4, Torres 2, Ududo 2, Felicilda 0, Bayla 0, Torculas 0.

DLSU 62 – Phillips 18, Quiambao 13, David 6, Macalalag 6, Agunnane 5, Ramiro 5, Austria 3, Gollena 2, Rubico 2, Dungo 2, Marasigan 0, Gonzales 0.

Quarters: 21-21, 42-36, 56-50, 66-62.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News