By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Renzo Subido nailed a dagger three in the dying seconds to complete a sweep of the University of the Philippines, 68-65, and send the University of Santo Tomas last night to the UAAP Season 82 Finals against unbeaten Ateneo de Manila University.
Subido nailed the three-pointer five feet clear of the rainbow arc with 23.6 seconds remaining, erasing a two-point UP lead and giving UST a 66-65 edge.
UP called time and Kobe Paras got the ball at deep left corner but had it slip away. An airborne Javi Gomez de Liano found himself in possession of the broken play and banked in a five-footer but missed, the ball going out bounds off him.
Most Valuable Player Soulemane Chabi Yo hit two charities to make it a three-point lead. UP got 4.9 seconds to send the stepladder knockout match into overtime but James Spencer knocked a three-point attempt strong off the glass, triggering a raucous celebration from half of the 18,000-plus crowd in the game at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
UST completed a masterful four-game sweep of UP this season and denied an anticipated rematch of last year’s record-setting Ateneo-UP championship series.
Trailing for most the knockout game, UP first tasted the lead in the last 5:13 after a Juan Gomez de Liaño jumper gave the Maroons a 59-57 lead.
UST, who led by as many as 12 in the first half, was not to be denied.
In what came down as the thriller’s most special moment, Subido took the ball at the left wing, far from the arc and with Bright Akhuetie on him but sagging back just inside three-point territory. The UST playmaker took a few dribbles, glanced down as if to measure the space he needed and launched the biggest shot of his collegiate career.
Chabi Yo erupted for 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Tigers, while Subido and Mark Nonoy added 14 and 12 points, respexctively. Rhenz Abando contributed 11 points.
“That was a good game. We have to give credit to (UP) coach Bo (Perasol) for making adjustments,” said UST coach Aldin Ayo. “Breaks of the game.”
Akhuetie scored 16 points and 17 rebounds while Manzo and Ricci Rivero posted 12 points each for UP.
UST battles Ateneo in a best-of-three series starting Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Scores:
UST 68 – Chabi Yo 22, Subido 14, Nonoy 12, Abando 11, Ando 3, Cansino 2, Concepcion 2, Paraiso 2, Bataller 0, Huang 0.
UP 65 – Akhuetie 16, Manzo 12, Rivero 12, Ju. Gomez de Liano 8, Paras 8, Spencer 3, Ja. Gomez de Liano 2, Prado 2, Webb 2, Murrell 0, Tungcab 0.
Quarters: 18-6, 29-28, 49-44, 68-65.
