UAAP Season 73 - A day of Upsets

MANILA, Philippines – Already down and out of the Final Four, the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors mustered enough strength to continue their giant killing ways.

Raffy Reyes had a career game in leading the Warriors to an 80-74 victory against the Final Four-bound De La Salle Green Archers on Saturday in the UAAP Season 73 men’s basketball at the Araneta Coliseum.

Reyes fired a career-high 17 points including the fastbreak play that capped off a blistering 9-0 run by the Warriors in the fourth period to transform a 62-64 deficit into 71-64 lead.

After Joshua Spider Webb broke La Salle’s four-minute drought, Reyes pulled up for a clutch jumper with the shot clock winding down to give the Warriors enough cushion, 73-66, with 1:36 left in the game.

The Archers last threatened on Sam Marata’s three-pointer as La Salle moved within 74-77 with 39.3 seconds remaining.

But a costly error doomed the Archers when Nico Elorde, the grandson of boxing legend Garbiel “Flash” Elorde, made a rookie mistake when his pass intended for Marata was intercepted.

Ken Acibar and Lucas Tagarda scored the insurance free throws that secured the Warriors’ fourth win in the second round to improve to 5-8.

Raffy Reyes

“We’re fighting for self-respect. Nothing comes easy for us. How I wish we’re still in contention for the Final Four. At least, our consolation is we beat three of the Final Four teams,” UE coach Lawrence Chongson said.

Earlier in the second round, the Warriors claimed the scalps of defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles (62-60) and Adamson Falcons (71-63).

Chongson also drew splendid games from his other backcourt players.

Paul Lee, who came off the bench, collected 19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals while James Martinez, who started with Reyes in the backcourt, finished with 13 points.

Meanwhile, the loss put a dent on the Archers’ bid of finishing in the top two, which will have a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

Webb had his second consecutive 14-point performance to pace the Archers, who dropped to 8-5.

The Scores:

UE 80 – Lee 19, Reyes 17, Martinez 13, Zamar 9, Duran 7, agarda 6, Acibar 4, Noble 3, Rosopa 2, Santos 0, Hernandez 0, Casajeros 0.

DLSU 74 – Webb 14, Dela 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.

Meanwhile  – National University (NU) Bulldogs completed a day of upsets in the UAAP Season 73 men’s basketball on Saturday when they pulled off a come-from-behind 62-59 victory against the Adamson Falcons at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Bulldogs found an unlikely hero in big man Jewel Ponferrada, who drained the winning three-pointer in the last 2.9 seconds.
With the Falcons’ defense collapsing on NU’s gunner Kokoy Hermosisima, Mervin Baloran received the inbound pass and went for a drive against a phalanx of Falcons’ defender. Then at the corner of his eye, he saw a wide open Ponferrada at left quarter court.
Baloran dished off the ball to Ponferrada, who unloaded the ball off his hands before the Falcons’ defense could recover. The shot fell in and Ponferrada and the Bulldogs’ gallery erupted in frenzied celebration.
“Sinabi lang ni coach (Eric Gonzales) na i-enjoy namin ang mga natitirang laro. Lalo na ako, dahil last 2 games ko na dito sa UAAP,” Ponferrada said.
The Falcons sued for time but could not get an open look in the last play with Alex Nuyles’ desperation three-pointer failing to hit the rim.
“Ang hirap i-motivate ang mga bata after the devastating loss [to FEU]. Humingi ako ng wisdom kay Lord at binigyan naman ako. Ipinaalala ko sa kanila ang basketball noong mga bata pa sila na wala namang team standings. Ice tubig, lusutan at pitik bulag nga lang pero ayaw patalo,” Gonzales said. “I’m glad they got my message.”
The Bulldogs heeded Gonzales’ pre-game talk as they uncorked a huge 13-2 wind-up to pick up their 6th win in 13 games, easily making it their best showing since the team last entered the Final Four in 2001.
Gonzales tried to catch the Falcons flat footed by inserting his second unit in the starting line up. The second unit kept the Bulldogs afloat to set up for the regular starters’ flourishing finish.
From a 49-57 deficit midway through the fourth period, Emmanuel Mbe rallied the Bulldogs, powering his way to back-to-back inside baskets to knot the count at 57-all.
Hermosisima scored on a leaner to give the Bulldogs the lead, 59-57.
The Falcons answered back as Eric Camson dished off an alley-oop pass to a wide open Jan Colina for the last deadlock, 59-all, 22.4 seconds left.
The Falcons, coupled with the Archers’ loss, handed off the twice-to-beat advantage to league-leading Far Eastern University Tamaraws (10-2).
The Ateneo Blue Eagles (9-3) will gun for the other twice-to-beat incentive on Sunday against also-ran University of Sto. Tomas Tigers.
The Scores:
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.
AdU 59 - Nuyles 10, Lozada 8, Canada 8, 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.