Francis Lopez, left, got here up massive for UP down the stretch of their UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball Closing 4 recreation in opposition to Ateneo.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
MANILA, Philippines — College of the Philippines dethroned Ateneo, 57-46, to guide its third straight Finals within the UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball event on Saturday at Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
The Preventing Maroons’ rookie Francis Lopez, an Ateneo highschool product, placed on the ending touches to carry again UP to the Finals with a clutch lefty layup to push their result in 55-46 with 32.6 seconds left earlier than sealing the win with two free throws to eradicate the Blue Eagles, who missed the championship spherical for the primary time in eight years.
Lopez rose to the event in entrance of 14,505 followers, with 12 factors and 10 rebounds and serving to the Preventing Maroons precise candy revenge on their Finals tormentor final yr.
“I need to take my coaches, to start with, for getting all this work that they’ve performed for us, particularly in opposition to Ateneo, coach Tab has been right here for a very long time. Our coaches have been there they usually all the time bought our again,” stated Lopez. “We simply fought actually exhausting.”
Reigning Most Worthwhile Participant Malick Diouf additionally powered UP with 12 factors, 16 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. The Maroons will face the winner of the opposite semifinal match between twice-to-beat La Salle and Nationwide College.
Malick Diouf.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
In a low-scoring recreation with Ateneo main 25-22 on the half, the Preventing Maroons caught hearth down the stretch. Gerry Abadiano scored six of his 9 factors within the fourth quarter for a 53-44 lead with 3:51 remaining earlier than Lopez’s key baskets clinched UP’s fourth Finals berth within the final 5 seasons.
Janjan Felicilda additionally stepped up with 10 factors, 5 rebounds, and three assists, whereas Aldous Torculas added seven factors after sparking his crew’s late run to finish the third with a 42-37 lead.
“Each groups, we simply fought. I believe the rating says all of it. The primary half was like 25 to 22. And that’s a one-quarter rating. So each groups simply got here ready particularly within the defensive finish, each groups additionally struggled offensively,” stated UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon, talking for Goldwin Monteverde. “We bought it going within the third quarter, had a few financial institution pictures from our gamers however greater than that, they simply fought exhausting and didn’t quit till the top. That’s hats off to all of the gamers.”
Ateneo’s six straight Finals appearances beneath Tab Baldwin got here to a halt. The Eagle barely made it to the Closing 4 with a 7-7 document as they wanted to beat the Adamson Falcons in a playoff three days in the past to clinch a spot.
Chris Koon led the Blue Eagles with 10 factors, eight rebounds, and two assists. Kai Ballungay had eight factors and 6 rebounds, whereas Ian Espinosa added seven markers.
Joseph Obasa had 4 factors and 10 rebounds as he performed by means of 4 private fouls in his closing UAAP recreation.
The scores:
UP (57) – Diouf 12, Lopez 12, Felicilda 10, Abadiano 9, Torculas 7, Cansino 3, Cagulangan 2, Alarcon 2, Pablo 0, Torres 0, Alter 0, Belmonte 0, Fortea 0.
Ateneo (46) – Koon 10, Ballungay 8, Espinosa 7, Amos 6, Obasa 4, Brown 3, Chiu 3, Credo 3, Quitevis 2, Lazaro 0.
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Quarterscores: 7-11, 22-25, 42-37, 57-46