Warriors take fight out of UP Maroons in OT

The University of the East Red Warriors limited the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to just four points in overtime to win, 77-69, on Thursday in the 72nd UAAP men's basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

"We got lucky, very, very lucky," said UE coach Lawrence Chongson, referring to how Val Acuña scored on a three-point shot with time winding down to force an extension and give his team its first back-to-back win in the season.

"Nag-fumble ako dahil may dalawang defenders sa akin. So I have to give up the ball. Buti na lang bukas si Acuña and he hit that three point shot," said Elmer Espiritu, who dished out the assist to the open Acuña who buried the triple from the left corner.

It was smooth sailing for UE in the extra period even without top gunner Paul Lee, who was whistled for his fifth foul with 9.5 seconds in the regulation, as the Red Warriors clamped down on defense to post their fourth win in six outings and cement their placing in the upper half of the standings.

With their stifling defense, UE limited its Diliman-based opponents to just a single point until the last 45 seconds when Mark Lopez scored on lay-up. The other UP point in overtime came from a split free-throw by Lopez.

While UP missed all but one of its attempts from the field in the extra period, UE immediately zoomed ahead with Espiritu scoring from behind the free-throw line and on a fadeaway shot, giving the Recto-based squad a 69-65 lead.

The Scores:

UE 77 - Lingganay 16, Espiritu 15, Lee 13, Llagas 10, Acuña 7, Bandaying 5, Reyes 4, Zamar 3, Diuran 2, Alabanza 2, Tagarda 0, Noble 0, Ayala 0.

UP 69 - Co 23, Reyes 14, Padilla 10, Lopez 9, Reyes 4, Gomez 4, Juruena 3, Sison 2, Maniego 0, Hipolito 0, De Asis 0, Braganza 0.

Quarterscores: 18-18; 34-29; 55-51; 65-65; 77-69.

"Ako na kasi ang pinakabeterano sa team sa overtime kaya kailangan kong gumawa ng paraan para maipanalo ang team," Espiritu said.

UE took the game away from UP with a three-point shot by Rudy Lingganay, who finished with a career-high 16 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

"I know that my veterans like Acuña, (Rudy) Lingganay, Espiritu and others will play like this because they want to make a difference before they graduate this year," said Chongson.

"Sinabi ko sa kanila na ito ang pagkakataon na ipakita nila ang kanilang kahusayan dahil noong huling nag-champion ang UE ay hindi pa Pangulo si Cory," said Chongson, pointing out to his wards that UE last won a championship back in 1985, a year before Cory Aquino's ascension to the presidency through People Power.

With their “lucky" win over UP, Chongson looked forward to their last assignment in the first round against favored and host Far Eastern U.

"Sana ganito rin ang kalabasan ng laro namin against FEU, we will be needing all the luck we can get against a tough team like the Tamaraws," said Chongson.

Co, who missed all of his three three-point attempts in the second period, finished with a career-high 23 markers for UP. He also grabbed 11 rebounds for UP, which absorbed its fifth defeat in the tournament.

Co and Lopez helped UP take the momentum starting in the fourth quarter where the Fighting Maroons even took a 64-60 advantage. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV