The University of the East Red Warriors pulled off a shocker against the De La Salle Green Archers, 74-69, in the UAAP Season 74 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Warriors won just their second game in the tournament in style as they put a dent on the Archers’ Final Four aspirations.
Paul Zamar fired 19 points, grabbed two rebounds and issued two assists, none bigger than the pass he made to a wide open JM Noble, who sealed the win in the last 40 seconds with a jumper as the Warriors lead went up to eight, 72-64, their biggest in the tightly-fought match.
The win improved the Warriors’ record to 2-7 but still occupy the cellar with the UP Fighting Maroons while the Archers slid down to 4-5.
Playing with a resolute defense, the Warriors started to take control of the game in the second quarter that saw the Archers losing Yutien Andrada to a freak injury and Luigi dela Paz in an accidental collision with a teammate. - Alder Almo