UE Red Warriors’ Nico Mulingtapang, Rainer Maga and Wello Lingolingo during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game against Ateneo Blue Eagles. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
University of the East came alive in the fourth quarter with a 32-point performance on the way to a 69-62 win against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Precious Momowei played all 40 minutes of the game to register 18 points and 15 rebounds, his first double-double of the season, to help extend the Red Warriors’ winning streak to four in six games.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
UE also ended its long losing streak to Ateneo, dating back to UAAP Season 78 when it last won on November 14, 2015.
“I just challenged my players last practice again because our rotation had to be adjusted again because one of our players got injured again [in] Ethan Galang [who is] suffering right now from a knee problem,” coach Jack Santiago said with a mix of Filipino.
“They were challenged by me because most players are coming off the bench, they need to step up and fill the spot of Ethan Galang. I’m happy with the boys. They responded very well,” Santiago added.
READ: Precious Momowei emotional after UE stunner over La Salle
Wello Lingolingo banked on his sweet shooting for 13 points on an 80 percent field goal. Despite a rough shooting night, John Abate still added nine points and five rebounds.
UE Red Warriors’ Precious Momowei during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game against Ateneo Blue Eagles. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
Ateneo led by as much as 10 points after a jumper from Josh Lazaro, who had 14 points and seven rebounds, 37-47. But there was no giving up for the Red Warriors as Momowei, Lingolingo and Nico Mulingtapang took turns to narrow their deficit, 43-47.
Momowei sank both of his freebies before a floater by Lingolingo brought UE to within just a possession. Maga then rained down on the Blue Eagles with back-to-back treys to give the lead to his crew, 57-54, as Devin Fikes joined the party with a triple of his own with 2:15 left on the clock.
READ: UAAP: Family fueling Lingolingo’s inspired play for resurgent UE
And UE never relinquished that advantage even as Lazaro and Jared Bahay, who had 12 points and six assists, tried to keep Ateneo alive. Abate did not waste his chances from the free throw line which pushed the Warriors’ lead in the dying seconds.
Shawn Tuano also contributed 14 points but it was not enough to stop Ateneo, which had a 38.1 shooting overall and 25.7 from beyond the arc, from suffering back-to-back losses as their campaign continued getting worse.
The Eagles look to stop the bleeding against National University on Saturday while UE tries to keep its hot streak alive against Adamson to cap the first round on Sunday, both at Mall of Asia Arena.