Javier delivers game-winner as UE upsets Ateneo in UAAP men’s hoops

MANILA, Philippines – Chris Javier delivered the dagger as University of the East pulled off a major upset over defending champion Ateneo, 79-77, Thursday in the 75th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena Thursday.

The second year center knocked down a jumpshot from the baseline with 0.4 seconds left off a dish from guard Roi Sumang, giving the also ran Red Warriors a stunning third victory of the season.

Sumang served as the decoy, attacked the basket and drew defenders, paving way to a feed to a ready Javier — almost the same sequence in UE’s win over University of the Philippines.

“We just really kept on fighting,” said Javier, who nailed a career first triple on Sunday.

Javier and Sumang chipped in 15 points apiece while the bulk of the Warriors’ points came from graduating guard Gene Bellaza, who had a career-best 28 points.

Though by not a huge margin, it was a convincing triumph for UE — which transformed drastically under the mentorship of season Boycie Zamar — as it paced Ateneo from the get go.

UE even led 63-60, and didn’t back down when Ateneo launched a quick 8-0 run in the fourth.

Instead, the Red Warriors turned to Belleza, marksman Rey Sumido, Sumang and Javier to stop the Blue Eagles’ momentum.

A bucket from Sumido and forward Adi Santos gave UE a 77-75 lead with 20 seconds left, before Kiefer Ravena tied the game with a tough putback with 7.2 ticks left.

The Red Warriors, who even trailed by 10 points in the second quarter, also exposed the Blue Eagles’ weakness in offense against the zone and in three-point shooting.

“Actually, it was just an adjustment with the zone and the defensive assignments [that was key],” said Zamar, who took over the coaching reins midway in the season.

Ateneo could have grabbed the lead with under a minute left, but Ravena and Juami Tiongson botched two treys in one possession before Santos’ go-ahead layin.

“We have nothing to lose. We just needed to execute whatever coach prepared for us,” said Belleza.

Greg Slaughter also had a career-high 24 points and 15 rebounds while Ravena added 15 markers in the Eagles’ second loss of the season.

Ateneo, though, remained on top of the standings with a 9-2 card.