UE stuns, defeats Ateneo; La Salle bests UP

MANILA, Philippines – Chris Javier played the hero’s role once more, delivering a dagger with 0.4 seconds left to steer University of the East to a jaw-dropping 79-77 stunner over Ateneo de Manila University in the 75th UAAP men’s basketball tournament Thursday, September 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

With virtually the final play similar to their most recent win, spitfire guard Roi Sumang attacked the Blue Eagles’ defense before throwing a pass to Javier, who calmly sank the jumper that gave the Red Warriors their second straight win and what could be the biggest upset of the season yet.

Javier’s heroics put an exclamation point to a sterling performance by guard Gene Belleza, who fired a career-best 28 points and five rebounds, for the Recto-based squad.

“Everything will be magical if you really work hard,” exclaimed jubilant coach Boycie Zamar in his second trip to the post-game interviews.

Javier, the sophomore center out of San Beda High School, backstopped Belleza with 15 points and six rebounds, Sumang added 15 markers, five boards, 10 assists and two steals, and Adi Santos had 13 rebounds and 11 points, including a layup that shoved UE ahead, 77-75, with 20 seconds left.

Ravena tied it at 77-all with 7.8 ticks remaining but Zamar drew Sumang’s calling card to lead the Warriors in the end game.

Slaughter put up a monster statline of 24 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks even as Ravena (15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals) and Justin Chua (11 points, nine boards) contributed as the Eagles lost for just the second time this season.

DLSU steps closer to final four

In the second game, Almond Vosotros scored 20 of his game-high 21 points in the last 14 minutes to propel De La Salle University to a hard-earned 76-69 triumph over University of the Philippines in the main game.

The Fighting Maroons kept the game close through the first three quarters but a Vosotros explosion created much-needed separation as the Green Archers strengthened their hold of the fourth spot with a 7-4 card.

Rookie phenom Jeron Teng had 16 points in the first half and finished with 19 markers and five boards for the Taft-based crew while Norbert Torres asserted himself early in the game to wound up with 13 points and five rebounds.

On the other hand, Mike Silungan top scored for UP with 14 points even as Jett Manuel and Mark Lopez chipped in with 12 and 10 markers, respectively.

The scores:

UE (79) – Belleza 28, Sumang 15, Javier 15, Santos 11, Sumido 7, Duran 3, Villarias 0, Olayon 0, Hernandez 0, Galanza 0

ADMU (77) – Slaughter 24, Ravena 15, Chua 11, Gonzaga 9, Salva 6, Golla 2, Buenafe 2, Sumalinog 0, Pessumal 0, Elorde 0

Quarters: 10-19, 34-36, 53-56, 79-77

DLSU (76) – Vosotros 21, Teng 19, N. Torres 13, Mendoza 7, Van Opstal 6, T. Torres 4, Andrada 2, Manguera 2, Tampus 2, Tallo 0, Webb 0

UP (69) – Silungan 14, Manuel 12, Lopez 10, Padilla 9, Asilum 6, Soyud 4, Romero 4, Gamboa 3, Mbah 2, Montecastro 2, Hipolito 2, Ball 1

Quarters: 19-14, 41-34, 54-50, 76-69 – Rappler.com

Garcia, Javier star in day of buzzer-beaters in UAAP

Garcia, Javier star in day of buzzer-beaters in UAAP

MANILA, Philippines – Former MVP (most valuable player) Ryan Roose Garcia completed a day of buzzer-beaters, sinking a lay-up as time expired for power Far Eastern University (FEU) in the nerve-wracking and controversial 77-75 win over National University (NU) on Sunday, September 2.

In the 75th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Garcia caught a pass from a teammate after a mad scramble on the other side of the court — the result of his own turnover a few seconds before — then threw the shot with 0.1 seconds remaining, to the delight of the huge Tamaraws crowd at the venue.

Game officials took a while before deciding on the matter, but several reviews showed that the ball left Garcia’s fingertips with a tenth of a second left, awarding the hard-earned win to the Morayta-based squad.

NU has expressed their intention to file an official protest. They have until Monday, September 3, to file it.

The win allowed FEU to tie the idle University of Santo Tomas at second with an 8-3 record, almost two games clear of trailing De La Salle University and their victims.

“Heart attack game na naman,” said coach Bert Flores, who joked about his low blood condition that sent him to the hospital for two days.

With Arvie Bringas suspended, seldom-used Russel Escoto shone bright, delivering a career-best 18 points and 8 rebounds, while Terrence Romeo paced the Tamaraws with 20 points and 7 boards.

Reigning MVP Bobby Ray Parks, meanwhile, led all scorers with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks but his efforts went for naught as the Bulldogs fell to fifth with a 6-5 record.

Playmaker Gelo Alolino also chalked up a career-high 18 markers he spiked with 6 rebounds and two steals as Emmanuel Mbe posted 14 points in his first game back from a hip injury that sidelined him in their last outing.

Red Warriors defeat Fighting Maroons

In the first game, Chris Javier sank a trey at the buzzer to lift University of the East to a scintillating 79-76 win over University of the Philippines for their second triumph this season.

With Roi Sumang’s isolation play well-defended, the point guard dished off to Javier, who was waiting in the corner, for the latter’s first 3-pointer in his young UAAP career.

“It’s a magical win,” returning UE head coach Boycie Zamar said.

The Red Warriors had a see-saw battle with the Fighting Maroons but a surge late in the third and early in the final canto propelled them to a 70-59 advantage.

The Diliman-based squad unleashed a 17-5 blast to take the driver’s seat, 76-75, but Javier scored off a free throw and drained the game-winner to help UE improve to sixth place with a 2-8 card.

Sumang sparkled with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists while Javier had another monster game with 20 markers and 9 boards.

On the other hand, Mike Silungan led UP with 16 points and 6 rebounds even as Chris Ball and Alvin Padilla scored 14 and 12 markers, respectively, in the Maroons’ 9th loss in 10 games. -Rappler.com

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First game:

UE, 79: Sumang 20, Javier 20, Santos 10, Belleze 9, Sumido 8, Duran 6, ALberto 2, Hernandez 2, Flores 2, Villarias 0, Olayon 0, Galanza 0

UP, 76: Silungan 16, Ball 14, Padilla 12, Soyud 10, Gamboa 8, Manuel 6, Lopez 4, Hipolito 4, Montecastro 2, Mbah 0, Romero 0, Gallarza 0, Asilum 0

Quarter scoring: 17-19, 37-40, 66-58, 79-76

Second game:

FEU, 77: Romeo 20, Escoto 18, Hargrove 13, Garcia 10, Mendoza 7, Pogoy 6, Cruz 3, Sentcheu 0, Inigo 0, Belo 0, Bringas 0

NU, 75: Parks 26, Alolino 18, Mbe 14, Javillonar 7, Villamor 6, Rono 2, De Guzman 2, Singh 0, Rosario 0, Neypes 0, Labing-isa 0, Betayene 0

Quarter scoring: 16-20, 35-29, 51-58, 77-75