By NIKOLE JAVIER
Defending champion University of the Philippines used the free throw area as its escape route and reaffirmed its mastery over Ateneo in overtime, 76-71, in the UAAP Season 85 Sunday night, Oct. 16, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
In a rematch of last season’s classic title clash, Carl Tamayo figuratively and literally stood tall for the Maroons, posting a double-double performance of 20 points and 13 boards to lift the Fighting Maroons to their fourth win in five starts.
Protecting a slim 71-68 lead, UP’s Malick Diouf and Terrence Fortea trooped to the foul line but split their charities to go up by five, 73-68, with 32.1 seconds left in OT.
But Forthsky Padrigao buried a trey to pull the Blue Eagles within two with 23.4 ticks to go before the 6-foot-7Tamayo was sent to the line.
To the shock of UP supporters, Tamayo just made one of two for a 74-71 lead.
That gave Ateneo one another chance to send the game to another five-minute extension.
There was no more second chance as Kai Ballungay missed his 3-point attempt that led to a loose ball before Diouf iced the game from the line.
For a while, the Maroons appeared headed to a runaway win when they took a 64-57 lead with two minutes to play.
But UP couldn’t keep it to itself as Forthsky Padrigao and Dave Ildefonso combined for seven straight points for Ateneo to force overtime.
“Siguro as a team, lagi namin pinag-uusapan whatever happens we have to stick to each other and face the challenges kahit gaano kahirap [and] situation,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Ildefonso had his own double-double outing of 22 points and12 rebounds while Padrigao added 15, seven of which in extra time as Ateneo absorbed its second loss of the season against three wins to drop at the fifth spot.
The scores:
UP 76 ‒ Tamayo 20, Spencer 14, Diouf 12, Lucero 10, Cagulangan 7, Abadiano 6, Galinato 4, Fortea 3, Gonzales 0, Alarcon 0, Calimag 0.
ATENEO 71 ‒ Ildefonso 22, Padrigao 15, Kouame 10, Andrade 9, Ballungay 8, Koon 5, Chiu 2, Lazaro 0, Gomez 0, Garcia 0, Quitevis 0.
Quarters: 18-14, 33-38, 53-54, 64-64, 76-71.
