Siat lifts No. 4 FEU over La Salle and into women’s Finals

April Siat. FACEBOOK PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — April Siat banked in the game-winning basket and Far Eastern University knocked off No. 2 De La Salle, 81-80, in overtime to advance in the finals of the UAAP Season 77 women’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Siat scored on a short jumper with 10.9 seconds left in OT before the Lady Archers, who had a twice-to-beat advantage, missed on a potential go-ahead 3-pointer as time ran out.

The FEU skipper Siat also forced extra session at 71-all with only 9.9 ticks remaining in regulation.

The fourth-seeded Lady Tams have now won their third straight do-or-die game after beating No. 3 University of Santo Tomas at the start of the stepladder Final Four and rallying past La Salle for a 61-56 win last Thursday that extended their duel.

Siat finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds while Jacqueline Tanaman and Claire Castro added 16 points each for FEU. Castro also grabbed 13 rebounds.

Trisha Piatos and Camille Claro had 18 points apiece for the Lady Archers, who couldn’t maintain an 11-point lead in the third quarter.

The finals between FEU and top-seeded National University, which paved the way for the stepladder semifinals after sweeping the elimination round, begins on Wednesday, 11 a.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Bulldogs own a thrice-to-beat advantage.