UE, NU down top guns

Games Sunday (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. — FEU vs UP
4 p.m. — UST vs Ateneo

National University and University of the East played spoiler roles in the bids of Adamson and La Salle to gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four after both squads pulled off a pair of stunning victories in the 73rd UAAP basketball tournament on Satrday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Center Jewel Ponferrada converted a game-winning triple in the dying seconds as the Bulldogs repulsed the Falcons, 62-59, while the Red Warriors leaned on Paul Lee and Raffy Reyes to disarm the Green Archers, 80-74.

Ponferrada, playing his final year, converted an open triple from the right side after receiving a kickout pass from a driving Mervin Baloran with 2.9 seconds left as NU shattered a 59-all deadlock after a basket by Adamson's Jan Colina tied the game seconds earlier.

The Falcons' Alex Nuyles failed to score a tying three at the horn and the win enabled the Sampaloc-based cagers to gain their sixth win against seven defeats.

"Binalik ko lang yung mga time na mga bata pa kami," said NU coach Eric Gonzales. "Diba nung mga bata tayo wala namang standing pero ayaw natin magpatalo?"

The losses of Adamson and La Salle put them down to identical 8-5 slates, meaning that idle Far Eastern University, which will play University of the Philippines this Sunday, gained the first Final Four bonus for carrying a 10-2 card.

It also gave an opportunity for defending champion Ateneo, toting a 9-3 slate, to register the last semifinals incentive against University of Santo Tomas, also to be held this Sunday at the Big Dome.

Cameroonian big man Emmanuel Mbe and Ponferrada, who entered the game hitting 2-of-6 from downtown this season, had 11 points each and combined for 11 rebounds in a relief effort as Gonzales opted to use his second unit into the starting lineup.

"Very devastating yung loss namin sa FEU," said Gonzales, whose team lost that game against the Tams that eliminated them from Final Four contention.

Nuyles was the lone double-digit scorer with 10 points for the Falcons, who wasted a five-point lead early in the payoff period.

Like the Bulldogs, the Red Warriors played as though they were still in contention.

"We're more like fighting for self-respect," said coach Lawrence Chongson. "It's not really any consolation of beating those who have made the Final Four, how we wish we could have still been in the running, but ganun talaga."

After a lethargic scoring output the past few games, Lee regain his offensive touchby firing 19 points while adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals while Reyes, playing his final season, added a career-high 17 points, five rebounds and two assists.

The scores:
First Game
UE 80 — Lee 19, Reyes 17, Martinez 13, Zamar 9, Duran 7, Tagarda 6, Acibar 4, Noble 3, Rosopa 2, Santos 0, Hernandez 0, Casajeros 0.
LA SALLE 74 — Webb 14, de la Paz 13, Paredes 10, Andrada 7, Atkins 6, Elorde 5, Villanueva 5, Mendoza 5, Tampus 4, Marata 3, Tolentino 2, Reyes 0, Vosotros 0, Ferdinand 0.
Quarters: 20-25; 40-40; 56-56; 80-74.

Second Game
NU 62 — Mbe 11, Ponferrada 11, Terso 9, Magat 7, Hermosisima 6, Ignacio 5, Malanday 3, Khobuntin 2, Javillonar 2, Eriobu 2, Tungcul 2, Singh 2, Ludovice 0, Javelona 0, Baloran 0.
ADAMSON 59 — Nuyles 10, Lozada 8, Canada8, Colina 6, Camson 6, Cabrera 5, Alvarez 5, Galinato 4, Manyara 3, Stinnett 2, Etrone 2.
Quarters: 17-14; 28-32; 44-46; 62-59.

source mb