Alvin Pasaol provided leadership in the second half.
And his big presence in defense and offense propelled the University of the East Warriors to a 73-64 beating of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday evening at the Arena in San Juan.
When he came aboard in the start of the last period, the Warriors pulled away for good, and they went on to post their third triumph in 10 games in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.
Playing for 32 minutes, he struck with 10 points in the last 10 minutes, and Pasaol’s presence frustrated the Fighting Maroons, who suffered their second straight setback.
After Mark Olayon unloaded a charity shot, Pasaol unleashed a trey and three charities in the last 9:05.
The Maroons were never the same again, after big man Ibrahim Outtara left on five fouls in the last 8:43.
Slightly ahead, 48-47, at the end of the third, Pasaol’s baskets lifted UE to a 55-47 edge.
Before he went down on cramps in the last 2:49, Pasaol unloaded the last of his five treys, 68-58, giving the Warriors a 10-point spread.
“Nagka-cramps na ako. Buti sinuerte pa rin ako,” said Pasaol on the triple that he did before he left the court with limp.
Mark Olayon backed up Pasaol with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
“We did a great job in defense. We had three guys that we contained. That’s Desiderio, Jun Manzo and Ibrahim Outtara. It was a great effort for the guys. I told them to contribute something other than scoring points. And this will win the game for us,” said UE coach Derrick Pumaren.
Juan Gomez de Liano topped the Fighting Maroons with 22 points and eight rebounds, while brother Javi shot 17.
The Maroons’ 4-6 slate put them in a share of fourth with the NU Bulldogs.
So frustrating was their game, which saw UP shooting 32.47 percent in their field goals.
With the game done in UE’s favor in the last 48 seconds, an angry Maroons coach Bo Perasol threw the ball down hard in anger following a turnover.
Paul Desiderio, one of the Maroons key scorers, was held to just eight points.
The Warriors played without injured player JC Cullar and Nick Abanto. Abanto has a hyperextended knee and is recovering from a sprained ankle.
BOX SCORES
UE 73 – Pasaol 32, Olayon 11, Derige 9, Manalang 7, Maloles 5, Varilla 4, Acuno 3, Bartolome 2, Connner 0, Gagate 0
UP 64 – Gomez de Liano Ju 22, Gomez de Liano Ja 17, Desiderio 8, Manzo 7, Vito 4, Romero 4, Ouattara 2, Lim 0, Webb 0, Ricafort 0, Jaboneta 0
QUARTER SCORES: 21-13, 36-28, 48-47, 73-64