UE, NU keep Final 4 bids
University of the East kept its bid for a Final Four spot after humbling University of the Philippines, 73-64, in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Red Warriors won their third game in four outings to improve to 3-7 and stay on track of getting the fourth spot in the league.
The Fighting Maroons slipped to a 4-6 record in a tie with National University, which dealt cellar-dweller University of Santo Tomas its 10th straight defeat, 91-83, earlier.
Mark Maloles and Alvin Pasaol exchanged back-to-back triples in a span of 18 seconds to give UE a 68-58 lead with 2:49 to go in the fourth quarter.
Pasaol then delivered the dagger, completing a three-point play for a 71-62 lead with 1:33 left.
UE head coach Derrick Pumaren is aware of the Warriors’ position in the Final Four race, but remains upbeat on their chances.
“Until there’s a fourth team that makes it then we still have a shot at it,” said Pumaren. “We just have to stay positive in the things that are going on. We just have to play as a team and keep playing as one unit.”
Pasaol showed his might with 32 points and 13 rebounds to lead UE, while Mark Olayon missed a triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
Rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño had 22 points and eight rebounds for UP while older brother Javi finished with 17 points and 11 boards.
The Bulldogs, who entered the game having lost five of their last six games, went on a 24-6 run bridging the second and third quarters to take a 69-58 lead.
Matt Salem then capped NU’s 11-2 run at the start of the fourth that put the Bulldogs up, 80-65, at the 7:29 mark.
“We really needed to win today because we wanted to have a better chance to get to the Final Four,” said NU assistant coach Danny Ildefonso, who handled the team in place of the suspended Jamike Jarin.
“I and the other assistants talked at the end of the first half and every one of us gave their insights on how we should adjust in the second half.” —BONG LOZADA, INQUIRER.NET
