Tigers, Maroons pull shockers

Games on Wednesday (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City)

10:30 a.m. – UP vs NU

12:30 p.m. – AdU vs UST

4 p.m. – FEU vs DLSU

MANILA, Philippines — Santo Tomas dealt National U another heartbreaker, fighting back from five down in the last 39 seconds in regulations and completing a dramatic 87-74 win in overtime in the 82nd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the MOA Arena yesterday.

Meanwhile, Kobe Paras had a winning UAAP debut, coming through with 20 points, six rebounds and two blocks as the UP Maroons also pulled off an overtime win, drubbing the Adamson Falcons, 83-82.

Paras and the Maroons unleashed an 8-0 finishing kick  highlighted by Bright Akhuetie’s game-winning free throws in the last 2.8 seconds.

On a high from their fighting 70-71 loss to titleholder Ateneo, the Tigers put up another stand to remember versus the Bulldogs, nailing a third win in four starts.

They pulled off a classic come-from-behind win behind the heroics of super-rookies Soulemane Chabi Yo and Rhenz Abando.

Yo chalked up a double-double of 23 points and 20 rebounds, including the game-tying short stab in the last 2.1 seconds in regulations while Abando went on a splurge in the crunch, scoring 13 of his 21 points in fourth quarter and OT, and adding six rebounds and two assists.

“We just got lucky in the end. We did not play our game in the first three quarters and a half, but the good thing is we stayed composed. It just happened that while our opponents were celebrating, we’re able to convert and force overtime” said UST tactician Aldin Ayo.

Slowed down by 25 turnovers and a lowly 34-percent clip, UST found itself in a deep hole in the last 39.1 seconds, 63-68, following NU forward Shaun Ildefonso’s putback off an Enzo Joson miss. 

But at that point the Tigers rediscovered their defensive form, forcing the Bulldogs into a five-second inbound violation and an eight-second error on back-to-back possessions. And that set the stage for an Abando spree including the booming triple in the last 27.7 seconds to trim the deficit to one, 67-68.

As NU committed another turnover, Zach Huang gained a trip to the line, and a Huang split forged a deadlock in the last 17.9 seconds.

The scores:

First Game

UST 87 – Chabi Yo 23, Abando 21, Concepcion 13, Nonoy 9, Subido 7, Paraiso 6, Huang 5, Cansino 3, Ando 0, Bataller 0, Cuajao 0.

NU 74 – D. Ildefonso 16, Clemente 11, Joson 10, S. Ildefonso 9, Gaye 6, Oczon 5, Galinato 3, Mangayao 2, Gallego 0, Mosqueda 0, Rangel 0.

Quarterscores: 21-16, 30-31, 47-52, 70-70, 87-74

Second Game

UP 83 – Paras 20, Akhuetie 18, Ju. Gomez de Liano 12, Murrell 6, Rivero 6, Spencer 6, Webb 6, Manzo 4, Ja. Gomez de Liano 3, Tungcab 2, Gob 0, Jaboneta 0, Mantilla 0, Prado 0.

ADAMSON 82 – Chauca 21, Manlapaz 17, Douanga 14, Lastimosa 13, Ahanmisi 7, Magbuhos 4, Camacho 2, Flowers 2, Mojica 2, Fermin 0, Yerro 0, Zaldivar 0.

Quarterscores: 18-20, 25-41, 52-50, 73-73, 83-82