De La Salle University breathed life to its UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals hopes with a Game 2 win over the University of the Philippines (UP).
The Green Archers came through with an emotional 76-75 victory over the Fighting Maroons on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City to force Game 3.
Newly-minted Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao doubled his output in the fourth through three triples — including the go-ahead three-pointer — as he finished with 22 points (7/14 FGs) on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Quiambao was limited to 11 points (3/7 FGs) coming into the final canto before he exploded.
“After that Game 1 loss, ‘di talaga ako nakatulog ng two days. So ayun, sobrang emotional ko kasi pinag puyatan ko ‘to at alam ko kung ano yung pagkakamali ko nung Game 1,” Quiambao, who also scattered nine rebounds, two assists, a steal, told a few reporters before exiting the Pasay Bayside arena.
After erasing a 64-55 deficit, La Salle slowly crawled back into the contest and saw themselves only down by five, 73-68 after a Mike Phillips basket with over two minutes left in the contest.
This eventually paved the way for Quiambao to show why he is a back-to-back MVP, as he made a tough three-pointer at the two-minute mark to bring La Salle within two, 73-71, and he followed with another trey at the 1:30 mark for a 74-73 lead.
The two squads then went on to struggle to make baskets after this play, with Quiambao, Phillips, and Francis Lopez all missing their attempts from the foul line, but Quentin Millora-Brown stood tall above everyone for UP, as his basket allowed them to retake a 75-74 lead with only a minute and 20 left.
Fortunately for La Salle, Phillips quickly answered with a basket eight seconds later, and adding to their fortunes was Lopez’s timely errors, free throw misses, and turnovers that made UP scramble for an attempt to win the contest.
The Maroons eventually salvaged a shot at the buzzer, one that came as a three-pointer from Gerry Abadiano, but it missed the bottom of the net. This, in turn, extended their series to another Game 3 much like last year.
“I guess we made the necessary stops in the endgame and that gave us the opportunity to connect from the outside. I don’t know what happened exactly, but we’re so grateful we get to see another day and play another championship game,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
Aside from this, UP, who leaned on Lopez, JD Cagulangan, and Abadiano as they all scored 16 markers, is now winless in four Game 2s since their championship run in early 2022.
The two squads will return for a third and final Season 87 Finals clash on Sunday, 5:30 p.m., at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
THE SCORES:
La Salle: 76 – Quiambao 22, M. Phillips 18, Macalalag 9, Gollena 9, Gonzales 8, Austria 5, David 3, Agunanne 2, Ramiro 0, Rubico 0, Marasigan 0.
UP 75 – Cagulangan 16, Lopez 16, Abadiano 16, Millora-Brown 11, Alarcon 5, Torres 5, Ududo 2, Torculas 2, Stevens 2, Bayla 0, Fortea 0, Felicilda 0.
Quarterscores: 28-22, 39-36, 54-62, 76-75.
