UP shrugs 1st-quarter rust, outlasts La Salle to force do-or-die

It’s not over yet for the champs from Katipunan.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons found their rhythm after a cold start to slip past De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers in a gripping 66-63, and force a do-or-die Game 3 during the UAAP 88 men’s basketball finals, at the Mall of Asia Arena, Dec. 14.

Reeling from a narrow 74-70 heartbreak four days earlier, State U lived to see another day as it evened the series at 1-1 sheet and tightened its grip on a back-to-back UAAP crown in front of a fervent 22,412-strong crowd.

Hounded by a sluggish Game 1 showing, point guard Gerry Abadiano was a man on a mission all match as he tallied 17 points, while big man Francis Nnoruka added a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Fresh from their opening defeat, UP had a hard time finding its bearings despite Nnoraka’s 5-0 run late in the first quarter, 13-17, where La Salle cruised with a buzzer-beating trifecta by Ej Gollena to lead by seven points, 13-20.

UP found solace behind the 6-foot-8 Nnoraka as he fueled a 9-0 run off back-to-back layups to snatch the lead down the second canto, 30-27, before JC Macalaglag came alive just in time to down a two-point basket and cement the lead entering the second half, 35-33.

Proving their championship mettle, the Katipunan-based warriors reigned in the turnover department as Abadiano and Gani Stevens conspired inside the lackluster La Sallian parameter with 8 points from layups alone to sustain the lead at the end of the third frame.

Abadiano then took full control late, breaking a 59-all deadlock with a driving layup before drilling a dagger three-pointer with under a minute left to keep UP’s title hopes alive.

Remogat and Stevens chipped in 12 and eight points, respectively, making up for their quiet performances in the series opener.

Meanwhile, DLSU’s game 1 hero Jacob Cortez did much of the heavy lifting with 16 baskets and four boards as Luis Pablo chimed in 12 points and six rebounds for the losing cause.

With the win, the Fighting Maroons look to ride that momentum into the winner-take-all Game 3, as the Green Archers refuel their redemption run on Dec. 17, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.