THE La Salle Zobel Junior Archers were already out of contention.
But they still played like champions, and put the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs’ semifinal hopes in peril with an 86-79 victory on Wednesday.
This kept the Tigers from securing the last semis berth in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament.
Batang Gilas standout Chris Calimag and Rogil Carlos made things possible for the Junior Archers in the last four minutes of play at the Blue Eagle gym in Quezon City.
They led an 11-4 windup that allowed them to earn their fourth win in 13 games, and with still a game left in the second round.
“The players I have are promising. and they are in development for next season,” said Junior Archers coach Boris Aldeguer.
Two charities from Carlos, followed by Calimag’s inside play allowed the Junior Archers to start moving away, 79-74, in the last 2:33.
Calimag, the son of former PBA standout Ricky Calimag, showed the way with 19 points and five rebounds while Carlos provided 17 points.
CJ Cansino and Jezreel Villapando delivered 16 points each for UST, which took their second straight loss, and dropped to a share of fourth with the Adamson Baby Falcons at 6-7.
Winderlich Coyoca banged in14 points while Michael Malonzo added 13 for the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups, who waylaid the Baby Falcons, 73-62.
The Bullpups are now sure of the no. 2 seat with their 11-2 slate.
The Baby Falcons, with Jose Sabandal firing 22 points, will clash with La Salle Zobel at 1 p.m. in the last game of the second round on Sunday.
On the other hand, UST takes on the defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws.
Two veterans, LJ Gonzales and Daniel Celzo, stepped it up in the last three minutes, and helped lift the defending champion Far Eastern Un iversity-Diliman Baby Tamaraws to a 65-56 stopping of the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons.
Their big plays down the stretch allowed the Baby Tams to secure the third semifinals slot with their 8-5 slate.
The Ateneo Blue Eaglets, behind Sam Belangel with 16, Sean Ildefonso and Jason Credo with 15 each, blasted University of the East, 101-74, to post their 13th straight triumph and move a win away from a 14-game sweep, and an outright finals berth.
Gonzales went on to finish with 21 points while Celzo made only 10 points and struck with 11 rebounds
BOX SCORES
THIRD GAME
ATENEO 101 – Belangel 16, Ildefonso 15, Credo 15, Sotto 13, Angeles 11, Escalona 10, Manuel 8, Chiu 5, Lopa 2, Gusi 2, Jaymalin 2, Santos 2, David 0, Diaz 0, Tanedo 0, Ong 0
UE 74 – Miranda 20, Vinte 14, Dichoso 11, Angeles 10, Lopez 6, Dulalia 6, Tajonera 3, Villarta 0, Almacen 0, Santos 0
QUARTER SCORES: 27-22, 65-38, 91-55, 101-74
FOURTH GAME
DLSZ 86 – Calimag 19, Carlos 17, Cortez 15, Santos 13, Cosejo 7, Escandor 5, Vesagas 4, Favis 2, Damiles 2, Pascual 2, Chavez 0, Terrado 0, Udal 0
UST 79 – Cansino 16, Villapando 16, Baquial 9, Relucio 9, Lina 7, Manabat 5, Anunciacion 5, Narvasa 5, Dolendo 4, Estrella 2, Palencia 1, Benzonan 0
QUARTER SCORES: 15-13, 37-29, 60-57, 86-79.
Games Sunday
(at the Blue Eagle gym)
9 a.m. UPIS vs UE
11 a.m. Adamson vs La Salle Zobel
1 p.m. FEU vs UST
3 p.m. Ateneo vs NU