Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The Final Four picture got a little tighter as University of the Philippines forced a tie at the fourth spot after surviving Far Eastern University, 59-56, in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Paul Desiderio emerged as the hero again for the Fighting Maroons, knocking down the game-clinching step-back triple over Ron Dennison with a little over a second left on the clock.
The victory allowed the Fighting Maroons to leapfrog over National University to get to the fourth spot, tying the Tamaraws with a 5-6 record.
UP head coach Bo Perasol is just on his second year with the Fighting Maroons but he is aware of his team’s 12-game losing streak against FEU.
“First off, Paolo Romero really asked us to win this game because in his seven years in UP he hasn’t won a game against FEU, so we did it for Pao,” said Perasol in Filipino.
“Paul also made sure that he’ll get back on [Ron] Dennison on the defensive end limiting him to just nine points.”
FEU held a 49-39 lead midway through the fourth quarter after outscoring UP 22-5 in the third period, but the Fighting Maroons came roaring back with Jun Manzo capping a 17-4 run to give UP a 56-53 lead with 38 seconds left in the game.
Jasper Parker momentarily silenced the UP crowd with a triple that tied the game, 56-56, with 32.9 seconds remaining.
Desiderio finished with a game-high 15 points, on a disastrous 6-of-23 shooting clip, while Ibrahim Outtara held UP’s interior with 10 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks.
Parker filled the stat sheets for FEU with 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.