MANILA – Kevin Quiambao stepped up in the endgame as De La Salle University Green Archers pulled off a 76-75 escape over University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Down 66-73 with under three minutes left, the Green Archers got an inside basket from Michael Phillips followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Quiambao to take a 74-73 lead with 1:30 left in the contest.
Quentin Millora-Brown regained the lead for the Fighting Maroons with an inside hit but Phillips responded with his own layup to give the Green Archers a 76-75 advantage with exactly a minute remaining.
UP still had multiple opportunities to regain the lead but Francis Lopez muffed two free throws while DLSU were also unable to put the game away via missed charity stripes from Phillips and Quiambao.
With 12 seconds left in the game, the Fighting Maroons had a last opportunity to take the championship but Lopez took time dribbling the ball at the center court before JD Cagulangan missed on a last-second heave.
Quiambao, a two-time UAAP MVP, finished with 22 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with nine rebounds, two assists, and a steal as the Green Archers leveled the best-of-three title series at 1-1.
Phillips finished with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, two steals, and an assist for the Green Archers, which forced a do-or-die Game 3 on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We still have a chance we’ve been in this situation before, we just have to keep on being positive. Again that’s a tough team we played, we just have to slug it out in the end,” said DLSU head coach Michael “Topex” Robinson after the game.
Cagulangan, Lopez, and Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano top-scored for the Fighting Maroons with 16 markers apiece, while Millora-Brown contributed 11 markers and eight rebounds in the loss./PN
BOX SCORE:
DLSU 76 – Quiambao 22, M. Phillips 18, Gollena 9, Macalalag 9, Gonzales 8, Austria 5, David 3, Agunnane 2, Marasigan 0, Ramiro 0, Rubico 0.
UP 75 – Abadiano 16, Lopez 16, Cagulangan 16, Millora-Brown 11, Alarcon 5, Torres 5, Torculas 2, Stevens 2, Ududo 2, Felicilda 0, Bayla 0, Fortea 0.
Quarterscores: 28-22, 39-36, 54-62, 76-75.
