The exciting trio of James Yap, Ronald Tubid and Paul Artadi provided the ammos with 15 points apiece although it was banger RJ Masbang who delivered the killing blows in the homestretch.
Masbang, known mainly for his defense, displayed another facet of his game as he erupted for all but four 14 fourth quarter points by the Warriors, snapping a three-game losing streak to the Eagles, the reigning UAAP champions.
"We just treated all our games here as a learning experience, win or lose," said UE coach Boyzie Zamar. "But of course, it would be sweeter for us if we win this event especially if it’s against Ateneo."
Indeed, a victory in this 18-day event, being held for the benefit of abused children of Bantay Bata 163, would be a redemption for the Warriors, whose two Final Four losses to the Eagles in the 65th UAAP season still rankle on the UE campus in Recto, Manila.
Ateneo, which topped the semifinals with a three-game sweep, hopes to get back on track today as it shoots for an equalizer that forces a deciding match tomorrow back at the Big Dome.
With Tubid, Yap and Artadi running the floor with surgical precision, the Warriors roared to a mighty start and followed it up with a fiery run early in the second quarter when they built leads as big as 18 points, 39-21.
The Eagles, behind the heroics of Rich Alvarez and Wesley Gonzales, clawed back but the Warriors just would not let them, keeping a 72-55 upperhand going into the final 10 minutes of the match.
Booming treys by LA Tenorio, Gec Chia and Larry Fonacier, pushed Ateneo closer, 66-70, but Masbang was there to crush their hopes of turning the tide.