UNIVERSITY of the Philippines outsteadied Adamson University in a dramatic showdown, 89-87, and ended 32 years of despair in the UAAP basketball tournament before a roaring crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
And again, it was veteran guard Paul Desiderio who delivered the telling blows in the rubber match of the semis series that enabled the Maroons to arrange a title showdown with defending champion Ateneo starting on Saturday.
Showing nerves of steel, Desiderio hit two crucial baskets – a huge 3-point shot and fade-away jumper – and the last 58.3 seconds to lead UP to victory.
“As a senior… you have to do that,” said a teary eyed Desiderio in Filipino. “I must lead the team, just keep pushing and keep fighting, and we were rewarded with this huge win.”
This marked the first time that UP will play in the finals in 32 years, or since the Maroons – coached by Joe Lipa with players Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano – won the 1986 title at the expense of University of the East.
UP sent its semifinal duel with Adamson to a sudden-death with a 73-71 win last Saturday.
The twice-to-beat Falcons grabbed a six-point lead, 84-78, after Jerom Lastimosa buried a three-point shot with 2:39 left in OT. It was also Lastimosa who sent the game to extra period with a triple with 2.6 seconds in regulation play.
During the timeout, Desiderio encouraged his teammates to continue fighting, and Diego Dario, Juan Gomez de Liano and Nigerian Bright Akhueti responded with their clutch baskets that tied the score at 86-all with 1:09 to play.
Seldom-used forward Jonathan Espeleta – shooting for the injured Jerrick Ahanmisi who had cramp – gave Adamson a one-point lead when he split his free throws with 58.2 seconds to go.
Then came Desiderio with his endgame heroics.
First he buried a three-point shot to put the Fighting Maroons up 87-85, and following a jumper by Lastimosa that leveled the score at 87-all with 27.1 seconds left, Desiderio came through with his game winning shot.
“This team will fight, no matter what,” said UP head Bo Perasol, a former team captain of the Fighting Maroons in the early 90s. “These guys refused to give up. We were blessed for this kind of win.”
The 5-foot-10 Desiderio who finished with 16 points on 4-of-20 shooting from the field with 11 rebounds, while Gomez led UP with 30 points. Akhueti had 13 points and 17 boards.
Ahanmisi led Adamson with 20 points, Lastimosa had 17 and Cameroonian Papi Sarr added 16 and 15 points. The Falcons missed on entering the Finals for the third straight time under coach Franz Pumaren.
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The scores:
UP 89 – Gomez de Liaño Ju. 30, Desiderio 16, Akhuetie 13, Gomez de Liaño Ja. 8, Tungcab 6, Prado 6, Dario 5, Manzo 4, Jaboneta 1, Lim 0, Vito 0.
ADAMSON 87 – Ahanmisi 20, Lastimosa 17, Sarr 16, Camacho 10, Pingoy 7, Manganti 6, Magbuhos V. 6, Espeleta 2, Mojica 2, Bernardo 1.
Quarters: 26-16, 51-42, 64-67, 78-78, 89-87.
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Game Saturday
(Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City)
4 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP
