The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons posted a big lead and maintained their composure in the last period to put away the La Salle Green Archers, 97-81, yesterday in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The de Liano brothers, Juan and Javi, showed the way with 27 and 19 points as the Fighting Maroons made it to the Final Four for the first time since 1997.
The Green Archers slipped to fourth and may have to go into a playoff for the last seat in the Final Four if the Far Eastern University Tamaraws beat the Adamson Falcons in their remaining game this Sunday.
Three triples from Javi with 5:59 left gave the Fighting Maroons an 84-61 cushion, and this allowed them to end the second round with three consecutive wins.
Meanwhile, Coach Tab Baldwin did not have to be around for the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles to post the seasons’s second biggest win.
Baldwin was notably missing when the the Blue Eagles posted the second biggest blowout of the tournament with their 102-62 crushing of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.
While Baldwin underwent a series of checkups at a hospital for an undisclosed ailment, Angelo Kouame and William Navarro made their presence felt in leading the Blue Eagles to 12 wins and two losses at the end of the second round.
“We tried to play as a team. Because that’s what coach Tab wanted us to do. And this is to finish strong,” said Kouame, who banged in 22 points and 10 rebounds.
UST, which ended their campaign under new coach Aldin Ayo with a 5-9 win-loss slate near the bottom of the standings, drew a game-high 18 points from Henri Subido,.
They also suffered the season’s biggest defeat when the Green Archers walloped the Growling Tigers, 110-69, in a second round tiff last Nov. 3.
Their output of 102 tied for most points scored by Ateneo in the Tab Baldwin era, and that was on Nov. 4, 2017 when the Blue Eagles also smashed UST, 102-83.
“”We wanted leaders. So the man up must fill in big shoes. We’re happy our players responded. It’s a no-bearing game. But we didn’t see it that way. Our players were serious,” said assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga after Ateneo’s winning margin was also recorded as the biggest the squad has produced since 2003.
William Navarro had 17 points, which was a career-high as well.
Kouame banged in nine points in the last 5:34 of the first period when Ateneo quickly moved away with a 16-0 run.
The Blue Eagles went to take a 34-11 edge near the end of the first period off Kouame’s jumper.
They posted their biggest edge at 44 in third when Kouame added 11 points, and Isaac Go scored on two freebies in 56 seconds for an 83-39 spread.
First game
ATENEO 102 – Kouame 22, Navarro 17, Mendoza 9, Andrade 9, Go 8, Ravena 6, Asistio 6, Nieto Ma 5, Nieto Mi 5, Black 4, Verano 4, Daves 4, Belangel 3, Wong 0, Tio 0, Mamuyac 0.
UST 62 – Subido 18, Agustin 15, Marcos 13, Mahinay 6, Huang 4, Lee 2, Ando 2, Cosejo 2, Bataller 0, Zamora 0, Bonleon 0, Caunan 0.
Quarter scores: 34-13, 58-31, 83-42, 102-62.”‹
