Spoilsports steal spotlight

MANILA, Philippines—Booted out but still in fighting form, University of the East dampened La Salle’s bid for the Final Four bonus with an 80-74 decision in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

 

The eliminated National University similarly played the spoiler’s role by nipping semifinalist Adamson, 62-59, in the second game.

 

Jewel Ponferrada buried the game-winning triple with 2.9 seconds left to lift the fifth-running, overachieving Bulldogs to their sixth triumph in 13 games.

 

“Coach (Eric Gonzales) told us to just enjoy the game, so I’m also enjoying my last two games in the league,” said Ponferrada, who shot 11 points like Cameroonian Emmanuel Mbe. 

 

Veteran guards Paul Lee and Raphy Reyes shone as the Warriors somehow eased the pain of missing the Final Four for the first time in nine seasons.
 
“We want to salvage whatever we can salvage, including our pride and self-respect,” said coach Lawrence Chongson of his Warriors, last year’s losing finalist.

 

The pair of upsets automatically awarded the first twice-to-beat Final Four bonus to idle Far Eastern University, which holds the top spot with a 10-2 record.

 

Only the top two teams at the end of the eliminations will earn the semifinal advantage.

 

Defending champion Ateneo, second with a 9-3 slate, can claim the remaining bonus in its 4 p.m. battle against the eliminated University of Santo Tomas at 4 p.m today at the Big Dome.

 

The Tamaraws, aiming to solidify their hold of the No. 1 spot, clash against the  winless University of the Philippines at 2 p.m.

 

“We had a chance to fight for the twice-to-beat, but too bad we didn’t execute well in this game,” said coach Dindo Pumaren after his Archers, who completed the Final Four cast last Thursday,  slipped to 8-5 along with the Falcons.

 

La Salle and Adamson still have a shot at a playoff for the No. 2 spot, but they must win their final elimination game and hope that Ateneo drops its last two matches.

 

Lee unloaded 19 points on top of four rebounds, four assists and half of UE’s six steals  and Reyes buried a career-high 17 markers as the Warriors improved to sixth at 5-8.

 

The Warriors uncorked a 9-0 spurt behind Lee and Reyes to turn a 62-64 deficit into a 71-64 spread with less than three minutes left.

 

Aside from struggling from the field, the Archers also struggled at the foul line by nailing only one of seven free throws in the final period.

 

The Archers closed in within three after a Joseph Marata triple, 77-74, with 39.4 seconds left. But the Warriors canned three of their four free throws off La Salle’s duty fouls in the dwindling seconds.

 

The Bulldogs rallied from an eight-point deficit, 49-57, in the last seven minutes behind the trio of Kokoy Hermosisima, Joseph Terso and Mbe.

 

Back-to-back baskets by Mbe tied the game at 57, before a Hermosisima drive gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the quarter, 59-57, with 1:13 minutes left.

 

Jan Colina buried a low-post bucket, from an assist by Eric Camson, to forge a deadlock anew at 59, before Ponferrada knocked in the game-winner.

 

The Bulldogs also registered a staggering 59.5 percent shooting clip, the highest since the Warriors had 60.5  percent in 2003. Photo by Mark Giongco

 

The scores:
First Game
UE 80—Lee 19, Reyes 17, Martinez 13, Zamar 9, Duran 7, Tagarda 6, Acibar 4, Noble 3, Rosopa 2, Santos 0, Hernandez 0, Casajeros 0.  
LA SALLE 74—Webb 14, Dela Paz 13, Paredes 10, Andrada 7, Atkins 6, Elorde 5, Villanueva 5, Mendoza 5, Tampus 4, Marata 3, Tolentino 2, Reyes 0, Vosotros 0, Ferdinand 0.
Quarters: 20-25, 40-40, 56-56, 80-74 
Second Game
NATIONAL U 62—Mbe 11, Ponferrada 11, Terso 9, Magat 7, Hermosisima 6, Ignacio 5, Malanday 3, Khobuntin 2, Javillonar 2, Eriobu 2, Tungcul 2, Singh 2, Ludocive 0, Javelona 0, Baloran 0. 
ADAMSON 59—Nuyles 10, Lozada 8, Cañada 8,, Colina 6, Camson 6, Cabrera 5, Alvarez 5, Galinato 4, Manyara 3, Stinnett 2, Etrone 2.
Quarters: 17-14, 28-32, 44-46, 62-59