Red Warriors shock Eagles

ATENEO guard Luis Gonzaga tries to squeeze a shot off UE’s Pedrito Galanza (left) and Gene Belleza in yesterday’s game. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Even University of the East coach Boycie Zamar couldn’t believe what happened.

Chris Javier buried the game-winner for the second straight game as Zamar’s Warriors shocked the four-time champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, 79-77, yesterday in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.

“I think I’m going to slap my face later,” said Zamar after his Warriors—already out of semifinal contention at 3-8—foiled the Blue Eagles’ attempt to nail the first Final Four berth.

Javier knocked in a mid-range floater with only four-tenths of a second left, just four days after the sophomore center nailed the buzzer-beating triple against University of the Philippines.

“The first win was sweet, but winning against the defending champion is sweeter,” said Zamar, who steered the Warriors to back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Gene Belleza also shone, firing 15 of his career-high 28 points to help the Warriors rally from as many as 10 points down, 16-26.

In the second game, Almond Vosotros drilled 14 of his 21 points in the final period as La Salle strengthened its hold of fourth spot with a 76-69 victory over UP.

“We gained separation from [National University] and that’s important,” said coach Gee Abanilla.

Javier fired 15 points like Roi Sum-ang for the Warriors.

Trailing at 68-73, the Warriors surged ahead with a 9-2 run capped by an Adrian Santos layup that gave them a 77-75 lead with 20 seconds left.

Meanwhile, the UAAP board convenes today to tackle NU’s protest of its recent loss to Far Eastern University, 77-75.

The scores:

First Game

UE 79—Belleza 28, Sumang 15, Javier 15, Santos 11, Sumido 7, Duran 3, Villarias 0, Olayon 0, Hernandez 0, Galanza 0.

ATENEO 77—Slaughter 24, Ravena 15, Chua 11, Gonzaga 9, Tiongson 8, Salva 6, Golla 2, Buenafe 2, Sumalinog 0.

Quarters: 10-19, 34-36, 53-56, 79-77

Second Game

LA SALLE 76—Vosotros 21, Teng 19, Torres 13, Mendoza 7, Van Opstal 6, Torres 4, Andrada 2, Manguera 2, Tampus 2, Tallo 0, Webb 0.

UP 69—Silungan 14, Manuel 12, Lopez 10, Padilla 9, Asilum 6, Soyud 4, Romero 4, Gamboa 3, Mbah 2, Montecastro 2, Hipolito 2, Ball 1.

Quarters: 19-14, 41-34, 54-50, 76-69