With Sumang benched, Mammie shows UE the way in big win over NU

Charles Mammie INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —Roi Sumang was benched but University of the East found a way to upset National University, 64-55, and breathe life into its flatlining Final Four bid in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Sumang, UE’s court general, was a no show during practice Saturday and was given a disciplinary action but the Red Warriors on Sunday came to play.

Charles Mammie, the 6-foot-8 center, imposed his size and wound up with 22 points and 10 rebounds apart from his presence at the defensive end of the floor.

“We wanna stay alive. This game is very important to us. We were fighting for our lives tonight,” said UE head coach Derrick Pumaren, whose squad improved to 6-5, just a game out of the playoff picture.

“The beauty of basketball. It’s a team sport. It’s everybody. I think what we showed tonight is that UE is not just a one-man team,” Pumaren said of the decision to not let Sumang play.

Paul Varilla added eight points and 10 rebounds, Gino Jumao-as also had eight and so did Chris Javier to fill in the vacuum with Sumang benched.

“The guys played their hearts out. Charles carried us. He was making big shots from 15 to 16 feet,” said Pumaren.

Gelo Alolino had 13 points and seven assists for the Bulldogs, who couldn’t stay in step with Ateneo and La Salle in the standings and slid to solo fourth with a 7-4 record.

NU opened up the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run to cut UE’s lead down to just a point, 41-40, before UE put the game to bed with a 16-5 rebuttal capped by a Mammie jumper with only 1:10 left.

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