MANILA, Philippines - University of the East upended Olivarez College, 76-72, to capture the title in the Cobra Energy Drink-ninth Asian University Basketball Championship at the Trinity University of Asia (TUA) gym in Quezon City.
The Red Warriors trailed by six points at the middle of the third quarter before they engineered a decisive rally that gave them an 11-point lead late in the fourth quarter en route to a perfect 5-0 record in the five-day, single round tournament supported by Cobra Energy Drink, AgriNurture Inc (ANI) and Healthy Options and organized by the Asian University Basketball Federation (AUBF), in cooperation with the Federation of School Sports Associations of the Philippines and Basketball Association of the Philippines.
Indonesia’s Hangtuah (3-2) copped third place with an 83-51 rout of winless
Universiti Teknologi MARI of Malaysia (0-5). La Salle-Dasmariñas (2-3), downed host Trinity University of Asia (1-4) to finish fourth.
FESSAP president David Ong and vice president Tisha Abundo, BAP executive vice president Christian Tan, and FESSAP deputy secretary general, retired Colonel Ariel Querubin, Peewee Lim of Cobra Energy Drink and host Trinity University athletic director Milagros Gutierrez witnessed the finals of the annual event won by Guangdong University of China last year in Bintulu, Malaysia.
Warriors team manager Jess Tanchanco and UE head coach Boyzie Zamar received the championship trophy presented by Lim of Asia Brewery.
Red Warrior JM Noble was named tournament’s most valuable player.