UAAP: UE rallies past FEU behind Ethan Galang’s heroics

UE guard Ethan Galang celebrates after hitting a clutch basket against FEU in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Ethan Galang flourished down the stretch as University of the East came back to beat Far Eastern University, 56-51, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Galang scored the game’s last eight points, including back-t0-back triples that pulled the Red Warriors ahead, 54-51, with 25 ticks to go after trailing by four inside the final three minutes.

After a pair of missed 3-pointers by the Tamaraws’ Jorick Bautista, Galang put the finishing touches with two free throws and gave the Red Warriors their first win in three tries.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

“As soon as I see the ball going, I just feel like now I’m in my groove. My confidence was high at that point… My first make will always be something that gets me going. As a shooter, not only speaking for myself, but as you see the ball going, it’s just gonna boost your confidence really high,” said Galang.

The Filipino-American guard actually struggled from the field but made the shots that mattered most to come away with 10 points.

“I know I was off pretty much the whole game. But in the last minute, it was keep shooting, keep my head up. Whatever happened in the past stayed in the past. Just keep shooting,” added Galang, who also had three steals.

Gjerard Wilson, who was scoreless in the first half, also played a crucial role in the comeback win, scoring six of his 10 points midway through the fourth quarter after UE trailed by as many as 10 late in the third period.

Veejay Pre stopped the bleeding for FEU before Royce Alforque, Mo Konateh, and Bautista gave the Tamaraws a 50-47 before Galang’s heroics.

READ: UAAP: UP pulls away to beat UE, shares lead in men’s basketball

Rainer Maga also stepped up with nine points. Precious Momowei had seven points, 12 rebounds, two blocks, and two assists. Wello Lingolingo also scored seven and grabbed five rebounds, while Jack Cruz-Dumont had four points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.

“We responded very well. It’s to play with a 0-2 record but I just gave some instructions to the boys to just stick together. Whatever happened, stick to the game plan. I’m happy that even we’re down, nandoon pa rin kami sa game plan namin,” said UE coach Santiago, whose squad battles defending champion La Salle on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

FEU couldn’t sustain its strong start for the third straight game, falling to a 0-3 record under Sean Chambers, whose team went scoreless in the last three minutes of the game. The Tamaraws battle the UP Fighting Maroons also on Sunday.

Bautista, who was a perfect 4-of-4 from the three-point line in the first half, missed all of his attempts from beyond-the-arc in the last two quarters and finished with 16 points and three assists. Pre had 13 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, while Konateh added six points and 17 rebounds.

The scores:

UE (56) – Wilson 10, Galang 10, Maga 9, Momowei 7, Lingolingo 7, J. Cruz-Dumont 4, Abate 4, Mulingtapang 3, Fikes 2, Robles 0, Spandonis 0, Jimenez 0.

FEU (51) – Bautista 16, Pre 13, Konateh 6, Alforque 5, Bagunu 5, Pasaol 3, Ona 3, Montemayor 0, Nakai 0, Daa 0, Jones 0, Duque 0.

Quarterscores: 9-14, 25-32, 38-42, 56-51