Attacks from the trio of Akhuetie Bright, Juan Gomez de Liano and Paul Desiderio kept coming and coming.
In the end, the La Salle Green Archers couldn’t shake off the persistent University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, who went on to pull off a 67-61 upset yesterday in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Akhuetie Bright made his imposing presence felt underneath with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Fighting Maroons, who scored their second win in five games.
The 6’8” Bright struck with a layup and a dunk that gave UP the early lead, 6-2, and a jump shot which later kept UP ahead after La Salle tied the count, 8-all.
Gomez de Liano produced 17 points for the Fighting Maroons. He unloaded eight points off two triples and a drive in the last six minutes of the third to put the UP back in front, 43-37, and after La Salle regained the upper hand.
Desiderio had 12 points, and rattled the La Salle defense after his lone triple in the second period, keeping UP in the thick of the fight.
UP’s first win came after their 68-69 loss to the Adamson Falcons, and this gave La Salle its second loss in four games.
“It was a painful game for us against Adamson. When you lose those games, you lose confidence and the only way to get that back is by winning,” said Fighting Maroons coach Bo Perasol.
The Maroons’ relentless attacks allowed them to post their biggest lead off Diego Dario’s jumper from de Liano’s assist with 7:17 to go.
But La Salle came back behind an 11-0 counterattack by Justine Baltazar, Andrei Caracut and Aljun Melecio.
Baltazar, who had 13 points, scored on a putback with 2:24 remaining, allowing La Salle to come within a points, 60-61.
A pair of drives from de Liano in the final 44.3 seconds saw UP keeping their edge, 65-60.
UP preserved its lead after Leonardo Santillan and Brandon Bates missed successive attempts.
This is UP’s first win over La Salle since their 98-87 triumph in the first round last year.
BOX SCORES
UP 67 – Akhuetie 19, Gomez de Liano Ju 17, Desiderio 12, Gomez de Liano Ja 7, Manzo 6, Dario 2, Vito 2, Tungcab 2, Spencer 0, Lim 0, Murrell 0, Gozum 0, Jaboneta 0.
LA SALLE 61 – Baltazar 13, Melecio 12, Santillan 12, Caracut 9, Dyke 8, Go 5, Serrano 2, Bates 0, Manuel 0, Capacio 0, Corteza 0.
QUARTER SCORES: 13-12, 29-33, 51-45, 67-61.