By MARK REY MONTEJO
De La Salle displayed its championship poise in the crunch and squeaked past University of the Philippines, 76-75, to forge a do-or-die match for the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball title at the jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
The Green Archers overcame a 63-71 fourth-quarter deficit as back-to-back MVP Kevin Quiambao and Mike Phillips proved their leadership on both ends, hitting crucial baskets and getting defensive stops to tie the best-of-three finals series and keep their title retention bid alive.
They lost Game 1, 73-65.
From a 63-71 deficit, the Taft-based crew gradually regained its footing with JC Macalalag’s triple, Phillips’s floater then Quiambao’s two consecutive treys to give La Salle a 74-73 lead with two minutes left on the clock.
However, Quentin Millora-Brown immediately answered for UP with a floater, 75-74, but La Salle went for a crucial blow as Phillips drilled a layup off a Quiambao pass, 76-75.
The Maroons had multiple opportunities to shift the momentum but failed, including a Gerry Abadiano’s game-winning triple attempt.
Quiambao finished with 22 points including two triples while hauling nine rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Phillips backstopped him with a double-double effort of 18 points and 12 rebounds while EJ Gollena, JC Macalalag and Royce Gonzales added nine, nine and eight markers, respectively.
Lopez, Cagulangan and Abadiano put up 16 points each while Quentin Millora-Brown had 11 in a losing cause.
The loss also marked UP’s fifth consecutive defeats in Finals Games since Season 81 or in 2018.
While La Salle, with its win, is now on cusp of winning a two-peat crown — a feat it failed to obtain for four times since 2007.
Game 3 will be on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The scores:
DLSU (76) – Quiambao 22, Phillips 18, Gollena 9, Macalalag 9, Gonzales 8, Austria 5, David 3, Agunanne 2, Marasigan 0, Ramiro 0, Rubico 0.
UP (75) – Cagulangan 16, Lopez 16, Abadiano 16, Millora-Brown 11, Torres 5, Alarcon 5, Torculas 2, Ududo 2, Stevens 2, Felicilda 0, Bayla 0, Fortea 0.
Quarterscores: 28-22, 39-36, 54-62, 76-75.
