Warriors snatch victory from jaws of fate, survive

Games on Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m. – AdMU vs FEU

6 p.m. – DLSU vs NU

MANILA, Philippines - Never-say-die University of the East wiped out a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and snatched a 68-66 victory over La Salle to stay alive in the race for a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Bong Galanza knocked in a clutch trey and Dan Alberto pulled off a crucial steal and three-point play as the Warriors used a 16-2 blast to seize a 67-63 cushion going to the last 19.3 seconds. Then they held on to foil the Archers and notch their eighth win in 13 outings.

But UE is still one win behind fourth-running National U, which improved to 9-4 after a 75-64 disposal of ousted University of Santo Tomas in the second game. The Bulldogs caught up with the Archers at third, both assured of at least a playoff for a semis seat.

“I think this was a character game for us. We were down by 10 points but the boys kept their poise, they refused to lose,” said UE coach Derrick Pumaren.

“It was a total team effort. Our battlecry for tonight was we got to keep on fighting to survive. That’s what we did,” added Pumaren, whose team can set a rubber match for a semis spot with another win against the Tigers (5-8) next week.

The Archers threatened to blow the Warriors out when they rained treys in a 12-8 exchange for 61-51 margin, 4:05 left.

But the Recto-based squad refused to give up with Galanza stepping up and punching in eight of his 21 markers in the succeeding stretch to tie it at 63. Alberto then stripped Almond Vosotros and raced home for a three-point play off Jeron Teng for a 66-63 cushion.

Charles Mammie then forced Teng to lose the leather, leading to a split by Roi Sumang that padded the UE lead to 67-63, 19.3 seconds to go.

The Warriors shot a sizzling 40 percent from beyond the arc (6-of-15) with Galanza accounting for three and Sumang making two. UE likewise got 24 easy points off DLSU’s 29 turnovers.

“Too many turnovers. Credit also to UE, they shot really well, they’re 40 percent from the trey and it’s hard (to beat a team shooting that well),” said DLSU coach Juno Sauler.

Pau Javelona hit back-to-back triples to spearhead a 14-4 blast that allowed the slow-starting Bulldogs to seize control for good, 74-63.

NU not only moved closer to a semis but also positioned itself for a possible shot at No. 2 Winner of the match between NU and DLSU on Saturday will take on the loser of the FEU-Ateneo match in a rubber match for No. 2 and twice-to-beat.

The scores:

First Game

UE 68 – Galanza 21, Sumang 14, Javier 8, Alberto 6, Jumao-as 6, Mammie 4, Arafat 3, de Leon 2, Palma 2, Varilla 2, Guiang 0, Olayon 0.

DLSU 66 – Teng 23, Vosotros 11, Sargent 10, Rivero 7, Torres 7, Montalbo 6, Van Opstal 2, Andrada 0, Perkins 0.

Quarterscores: 15-13, 36-22, 43-39, 68-66

Second Game

NU 75 – Alolino 14, Celda 13, Khobuntin 12, Javelona 11, Rosario 10, Diputado 5, Betayene 4, Aroga 4, Perez 2, Alejandro 0, Atangan 0.

UST 64 – Abdul 15, Daquioag 13, Subido 11, Mariano 9, Vigil 7, Sherif 4, Lao 3, Pe 2, Basibas 0, Faundo 0, Gayosa 0, Lo 0.

Quarterscores: 18-19, 40-37, 58-54, 75-64