Warriors whip Bulldogs anew; Maroons prevail

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

11 a.m. – FEU vs AdMU

4 p.m. – UST vs DLSU

MANILA, Philippines - Chris Javier provided the huge lift down the stretch as University of the East repeated over defending champion National U, 52-47, to get back on track in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tourney last night at the MOA Arena.

Javier knocked down three jumpers that gave the Warriors a 49-43 cushion in the last 1:39 en route to their third win in eight outings and a tie for fifth with the Bulldogs and University of the Philippines, which earlier exacted revenge over Adamson, 89-84.

The Warriors got out of a four-game hump at the expense of the Bulldogs, whom they also defeated in the first round, 76-71.

“We talked about forgetting about the first round and looking forward to the second round. For us, it’s the start of the season. We’re not thinking we’re 2-5 at the end of the first round, we just have to work our way up,” said UE coach Derrick Pumaren.

Javier fired seven in the fourth and finished with 16 along with nine boards as he outdueled foul-riddled Alfred Aroga (11 markers nine caroms).

“Chris made a lot of big shots in the end. He bailed us out,” said Pumaren.

“For us, it’s like there’s no more tomorrow. We need to win so we can catch up with the teams above,” said Javier.

The Bulldogs led by as many as 10 in the second quarter but limped with only eight in the third, allowing UE to get back and eventually overtake them.

“For almost three weeks our morale was down, we were struggling and that tested us as a team,” said UP coach Rensy Bajar, whose squad picked up its first win since Sept. 9.

“We were looking to find a way to overcome our struggles and had a team building last night (Friday). It brought back energy to the team. We put up a collective effort; everyone worked together to finally stop our five-game losing streak,” he added.

The Maroons stormed to a 15-point lead and hung tough in the face of the Falcons’ fourth-quarter rally to improve to 3-5 and also avenge their 68-73 setback to AdU at the end of the first round last Sunday.

Henry Asilum came through with a breakout game, topscoring with 19 spiked by three triples while Jett Manuel shot 16.

making eight of them in the payoff period. Diego Dario struck hard with nine fourth-quarter points for 14 overall while Agustini Amar chipped in 13, his eight-point explosion in the second fueling UP’s breakaway.

It was a return to form for UP, which went on a freefall after a 2-0 start.

“Coach told us prior to this game to forget the first round already, that’s over and done with and focus on the right things that we’ll do in the second round. We got the first game in the second round, (there’s) six games more,” said Dario.

Pape Sarr muscled his way to 18 markers and 17 boards for AdU, which fell to 1-7.

The scores

First Game

UP 89 – Asilum 19, Manuel 16, Dario 14, Amar 13, Desiderio 8, Longa 8, Juruena 7, Harris 2, Moralde 2, Jaboneta 0, Kone 0, Lim 0, Vito 0.

AdU 84 – Sarr 18, J. Garcia 12, Margallo 11, Nalos 8, Ng 8, Capote 7, Escalambre 5, C. Garcia 5, Tungcab 5, Polican 3, Ochea 2, Camacho 0.

Quarterscores: 19-16, 44-36, 68-56, 89-84.

Second Game

UE 52 – Javier 16, P. Varilla 10, Abanto 7, Charcos 4, De Leon 4, Palma 4, Batiller 3, Gagate 2, J. Varilla 2, Derige 0, Manalang 0, Penuela 0, Sta Ana 0, Yu 0.

NU 47 – Aroga 11, Neypes 9, Diputado 8, Alolino 6, Celda 4, Salim 4, Alejandro 3, Tansingco 2, Abatayo 0, Javelona 0, Javillonar 0, Yu 0.

Quarterscores: 8-12, 21-28, 37-36, 52-47.