DE LA SALLE University held off a furious fourth-quarter rally by the University of Santo Tomas, emerging victorious with a 94-87 overtime win in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
It became a free-throw shooting match in extra time with the Green Archers making their charity shots and the Growling Tigers failing to convert their attempts.
After Kevin Quiambao opened the extra period with a layup, La Salle had seven attempts from the line, making all seven, while UST got four attempts, missing all but one to make it 89-81 for La Salle with 3:34 left.
Phillips stretched their advantage to double digits with a layup with 1:53 to go, 91-81.
“We were not surprised on how UST played. We always remind ourselves that every team will go all out competing against us. We made a lot of mistakes down the line, it’s just another opportunity for us to learn,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson after his Green Archers improved to a league-leading 8-1 record.
The Growling Tigers closed the fourth period with a massive 19-6 run to overhaul a 61-74 deficit to an 80-all affair to force an extra five minutes.
UST actually had golden chances to take the lead in regulation as Mike Phillips was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Forthsky Padrigao after the former held on the latter’s arm to stop a fastbreak attempt.
Padrigao split his freebies to tie the game at 80 and the Tigers got two more chances but the transferee out of Ateneo de Manila University missed two shots badly from the three-point arc to send the game to extra period.
Quiambao finished with a career-high 29 points – the most scored by a single player this season – surpassing his previous-high of 24 set during Game3 of the Season 86 Finals last December 6. He also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out three assists.
“I think ‘yung lesson na nakuha namin is kailangan namin takbuhin ‘yung sistema namin from first to fourth kasi hindi naman natatapos ‘yung game ng third quarter eh. After that medyo nagrelax kami and sinabi sa amin ni coach na alalahanin na baka mag comeback ang UST be prepared,” said the 6-foot-6 all-around forward, who launched La Salle’s 14-0 start in the game, scoring 13 points there.
Phillips put together 16 points and 13 rebounds while Raven Gonzales chalked up 11 points and four rebounds in 11 minutes of play.
UST has not beaten De La Salle since scoring a narrow 81-79 second round victory on Oct. 11, 2015. The Growling Tigers have lost their last 16 meetings with the Green Archers.
La Salle will look to extend its winning streak to six games come Saturday, 3:30 p.m. against Adamson University at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Nic Cabañero delivered 23 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three steals against five turnovers as UST dropped its second straight game, falling to 4-5, still at fourth but is just half a game ahead of 3-5.
Padrigao ended up with 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field including a dismal 2-of-9 from beyond the arc, while Mo Tounkara, who was ejected at the 3:38 mark of the fourth frame after incurring two technical fouls due to taunting, made 14 points and eight rebounds.
UST will aim to end its two-game skid on Saturday as well at its home gym against Ateneo de Manila University at 12 p.m.
The Scores:
DLSU 94 – Quiambao 29, M. Phillips 16, Gonzales 11, Gollena 8, Agunanne 7, Austria 6, Macalalag 6, Dungo 6, David 3, Marasigan 2, Ramiro 0, Abadam 0, Konov 0, Rubico 0.
UST 87 – Cabañero 23, Padrigao 15, Tounkara 14, Pangilinan 10, Paranada 8, Manaytay 7, Llemit 3, Estacio 3, Crisostomo 2, Robinson 2, Acido 0, Mahmood 0, Lane 0, Danting 0.
Quarterscores: 27-14, 42-29, 65-56, 80-80, 94-87.