Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
De La Salle extended University of the East’s misery in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament with a 106-100 win Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers improved to 5-1 to stay at the second seed as they overcame Alvin Pasaol’s 49-point showing for the Red Warriors, who dropped to 0-6 and tied University of Santo Tomas at the bottom.
Pasaol’s career game, the most in 15 years after now National University head coach Jeff Napa scored 43 in 2002, wasn’t enough for UE as La Salle big men Ben Mbala and Abu Tratter also produced career-highs.
Mbala broke his personal record for the third time this season finishing with 39 points to go along 15 rebounds while Tratter put up 24 points with 10 boards.
La Salle, however, didn’t cruise to the victory as UE outscored the defending champion 25-6 in the final four minutes.
“For the first 36 minutes of the game, we played really good except for the last four minutes,” said assistant coach Miggy Solitaria. “I think there was the factor that we were up by 25 and the team kind of relaxed after that. Fortunately we got the win.”
Mark Olayon was able to cut the deficit to seven, 104-97, after driving the lane for the layup at the 37-second mark.
Tratter responded with a tip-in with around 13 seconds left in the game to stop UE’s comeback and give La Salle a 106-98 lead.
Philip Manalang ad Olayon also finished in double digits for UE with 14 and 13 points, respectively.