Tigers, Tams move to Final 4

Jinino Manansala drained a big three-point shot with 52 seconds left to spark a late surge for University of Sto. Tomas as it defeated UAAP champion Ateneo, 74-71, yesterday to advance to the Final Four of the Champions’ League 2002 at the Makati Coliseum.

Far Eastern set up a Final Four duel with UST as the Tamaraws rapped the St. Francis of Assisi Doves, 57-44, later in the day.

A son of former PBA stalwart Jimmy, Jinino tied the game at 71-all after Wesley Gonzales had given the Blue Eagles a three-point lead from the line.

Andrew Cruz missed a tight jumper after Manansala’s trey and Cyrus Baguio, going one-on-one against Cruz above the foul line, hit a turnaround jumper.

Needing a basket to level the score, Ateneo called time with 22.9 seconds to go and then set up center Rico Villanueva, on his last game as a collegiate player, at the low post.

Villanueva got the ball, lost the handle, picked it up from a jumble of arms and released a shot that veered to the right, the miss rebounded by Jemal Vizcarra.

UST blew a 28-10 first quarter lead after shooting just 13 percent in the second quarter. But the arrival of Alwin Espiritu and Baguio energized the Tigers, helping them stay in the game as the worn-down Eagles lost steam down the stretch.

"Naka-una kami dahil alam kong kumpiyansa ang Ateneo," said UST coach Aric del Rosario. "Napagod din sila sa paghabol."

Meanwhile, NCAA champion San Sebastian takes on University of the East for the third semifinal spot today, and Las Piñas College battles University of Visayas for the fourth berth.

The SSC Stags are coming off a double-overtime win over the Philippine School of Business Administration Jaguars, while the UE Red Warriors needed an equally tough stand to beat another Jaguars squad, Cebu’s University of San Jose-Recoletos.

The Las Piñas Huskies stunned the College of St. Benilde Blazers in their elimination round knockout match, while the UV Green Lancers, coached by former PBA stars Elmer "Boy" Cabahug and Alfonso "Alo" Solis, surprised the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers to advance to the quarterfinals.