The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons sank six of eight charity attempts in the last two minutes to get past the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 76-71, in overtime Sunday night in the 85th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Carl Tamayo shot 20 points and hauled 13 rebounds, drilling in one of three winning freebies with 18 ticks left, pushing the Diliman dribblers to their fourth triumph in five matches.
James Spencer canned in 14 points, while Malick Diouf added 12, including the last two charities in the final 3.1 seconds off Ange Kouame’s foul, sealing the win for UP, which now shares the lead with the National University Bulldogs.
Dave Ildefonso knocked in 22 points for the Blue Eagles, who dropped to a share of second spot with the University of the East Warriors at 3-2.
Kouame, who delivered 15 points, was forced to a turnover in the last 5.4 seconds and his fifth foul in the next play set Diouf up for two final free throws for UP.
Rence Padrigao, who shot 15 points, failed to win the game for the Eagles when he missed a triple in the last 2.8 seconds, sending the contest into overtime, 68-all.
Padrigao earlier tied the match (68-all) with his layup off Kouame’s pass in the last 36.7 seconds.
“I believe that today, we played better as a team. We moved the ball really well. We really tried to work on our offense. We got tested in this game. The team stayed together, and they executed on both ends,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Meanwhile, rookie Luis Villegas scored nine of 17 points in the last 10 minutes as the University of the East Red Warriors fended off the Univerity of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 78-68, for their second straight win.
Villegas’ timely baskets halted UST’s rally in the last eight minutes of the final period, sending the Red Warriors to their third win in four matches.
Nick Paranada also had 17 points for the Red Warriors, who earned a share of fourth spot with the La Salle Green Archers.
After UST threatened by three, 56-59, Villegas connected with a three-point play and a charity in the last 5:08 to push the Red Warriors ahead, 62-56.
Two more freebies and a triple from Villegas in the 1:30 mark saw UE enjoying a 73-60 spread.
“Hindi ako makapaniwala. This game was a team effort,” said coach Jack Santiago after the Red Warriors claimed their first win over UST since October 7, 2017, which was a 96-91 victory.
UST, which fell behind with their 1-4 record, struggled after Adama Faye was slapped with a disqualifying foul at the 2:01 mark of the third period after his elbow hit Harvey Pagsanjan’s jaw during a loose ball battle.
In women’s action, Kacey Dela Rosa led the Ateneo Lady Eagles past the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 67-61.
Dela Rosa, a freshman out of Chiang Kai Shek High School, unloaded a monster double-double of 30 points and 20 rebounds to go with seven blocks.
Her statline eclipsed multiple season-highs, surpassing Dindy Medina’s (Adamson) 29 points against University of Santo Tomas last October 1.
It also overtook Fina Niantcho’s (La Salle) and Kamba Kone’s (UE) 19-rebound efforts.
