The UP Fighting Maroons outlasted the UST Growling Tigers, 103-101, in double overtime in the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
UP looked in control with an 84-76 lead and 1:57 left in regulation, but UST rallied to tie the game at 86 and force overtime. The Fighting Maroons then trailed 89-96 with 1:32 left in the first extra period, but they fought back to tie it at 96.
In the second overtime, Veejay Pre took over and scored all 7 of UP’s points. His layup made it 102-98 with 1:32 left, but Mark Llemit’s drive cut the lead to one, 101-102, with 41.5 seconds remaining. Kirk Cañete missed UST’s go-ahead attempt, and Pre split his free throws with 2.1 seconds left to seal the win.
“For us naman, we never doubted Veejay to step up sa mga ganitong klaseng situations,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde. “What I’m most proud of is ‘yung pag ganitong laban na nag-double overtime, puso na lang ang pinag-uusapan eh.”
Pre finished the game with 30 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block. Chicco Briones added 14 points, while Noy Remogat chipped in 10 points and 6 assists. For UST, Llemit scored a career-high 33 points, Collins Akowe had a double-double of 23 points and 18 rebounds, and Cañete contributed 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.
La Salle Needs Extra Time to Hold Off UE
Earlier in the day, the La Salle Green Archers outlasted the UE Red Warriors, 97-88, in a game that also went down to the wire.
The Green Archers led 57-50 after three quarters, but UE erased the deficit with a 16-4 run led by Toper Lagat, Lance Sabroso, and DJ Robles to go up 66-61 with 6:10 left. Doy Dungo and Henry Agunanne put La Salle back in front, 74-70, with 21.9 seconds left.
However, Sabroso scored quickly, and Lagat turned a steal into a game-tying layup with 9.4 seconds remaining. In overtime, Mo Tañedo’s layup brought UE within two, 82-84, before Joaquin Tovera, Mason Amos, and Earl Abadam sparked a 7-2 run that gave La Salle a 91-84 lead with 57.9 seconds left. The loss was UE’s 28th straight.
“Despite committing 31 turnovers, we still won,” said La Salle assistant coach Oliver Bunyi, who credited his players’ resiliency.
Amos led the Green Archers with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Jcee Macalalag added 14 points, Agunanne had 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks, Dungo contributed 12 points and 4 assists, and Tovera chipped in 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.
For UE, Lagat finished the game with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 steals, Sabroso had 18 points, Tañedo added 16, and Cole Cruz-Dumont contributed 13.
All four teams return to action on Sunday, October 25, at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UP will face UE at 2:30 p.m., and later that day at 6:00 p.m., UST will take on La Salle.
