The La Salle Green Archers were ready to celebrate their title conquest in the 88th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament on Sunday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena.
But a big weekend crowd which came and supported the Green Archers were disappointed, after the Fighting Maroons spoiled the party with a 66-63 triumph.
Playing in front of a paying audience that reached around 22,412, La Salle had misses in the last two possessions, and Francis Nnoruka’s split charity in the closing seconds, allowed the Fighting Maroons to equalize their best-of-three championship series when Game 2 ended.
Gerry Abadiano led with 17 points for the Fighting Maroons, who will now have a chance to fight for the crown on Wednesday against La Salle, which took Game 1 with a 74-70 victory.
Defense of La Salle’s main point Jacob Cortez fell in the hands of Jacob Bayla, who limited him to seven points in the last quarter.
Even though Cortez led La Salle with 16 points, he misfired in the face of Bayla’s tight screening on him in the final minute.
“We all know that Jacob Cortez is a talented player, and he’ll break you down in isolations. And Bayla was up to the challenge in guarding him,” said assistant coach Christian Luanzon, who spoke for Goldwin Monteverde.
It was Abadiano’s jumper with 59 seconds left, which gave them the upperhand in the last quarter, 65-62.
Nnoruka struck with a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds, with his charity in the final seven seconds, giving the Fighting Maroons a safe three-point in the dying seconds.
“Come Wednesday, we will try to get that far out. You’ll see,” added Luanzon, now that La Salle’s quest for an 11th collegiate crown is in danger.
The heavily-guarded Cortez had big chances to keep La Salle in the thick of the fight, with his split freebie with 44 seconds putting them within range, 63-65.
After Cortez missed another charity attempt, La Salle bungled two more scoring chances off Vhoris Marasigan’s three-point attempt, and Luis Pablo’s hurried jumper in the next two possessions.
“After tonight, I’m sure we have a lot of things to clean up in our game, like things we did in the rebounding department,” said Luanzon.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University guard Janrey Pasaol was hailed MVP of the UAAP Season 88, becoming the first Tamaraw to win the highest individual award since Terrence Romeo played for FEU in 2013.
Pasaol was also named in Mythical Team with University of Santo Tomas stars Nic Cabañero and Collins Akowe, La Salle forward Mike Phillips and Korean Basketball League-bound Jake Figueroa of National University.
