UE celebrates after Rey Remogat’s big triple late in the Red Warriors’ stunning win over the La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines-The University of the East Red Warriors bowed out of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament with their heads held high.
Rookie guard Rey Remogat smelled blood in extra time and swished a clutch three with 46.1 seconds left as the Warriors frustrated the La Salle Green Archers, 80-72, in their farewell game of the season Saturday night.
Remogat magnificently poured 20 of his career-high 24 points in the second half with that heave from deep snuffing out the hopes of the Archers for good.
“Our last game became my motivation. It was a tight game, but we weren’t able to finish,” said Remogat after an overtime setback at the hands of the Ateneo Blue Eagles last time out.
While the Warriors capped their season with a 5-9 record, the Archers are now in peril of missing the semifinals after seeing their three-game streak come to a halt.
“I made a request to my players to give me a gift by winning our last game. They committed and we ended our season on a winning note,” said UE coach Jack Santiago, whose Warriors came from a winless, 0-14 record prior to this season.
The Archers (6-7) have one game left against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on Wednesday, but a victory by the Adamson Falcons (7-6) over the Ateneo Blue Eagles on the same playdate will automatically usher La Salle to the exits.
Mark Nonoy fired four threes and finished with 14 points while Bright Nwankwo and Cyrus Austria tried to keep the Archers in fighting form throughout with 10 points each.
La Salle again saw limited minutes from Schonny Winston, who continues to recover from an injured calf, while Michael Phillips remained at sickbay and sat on the bench throughout.
The Scores:
UE 80 — Remogat 24, K. Paranada 13, Stevens 12, Villegas 10, N. Paranada 6, Gilbuena 5, Pagsanjan 4, Sawat 4, Payawal 2, Tulabut 0, Alcantara 0.
LA SALLE 72 — Nonoy 14, Austria 10, Nwankwo 10, Nelle 8, Cortez 8, Macalalag 8, Quiambao 7, B. Phillips 4, Estacio 3, Abadam 0, Winston 0.
Quarters: 16-27, 36-33, 50-51, 68-68, 80-72.