BY Gwen Bergado
ATENEO overcame a sluggish start then a late scare from the University of the Philippines Integrated School for a thrilling 70-69 triumph, Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Jay M Leal sank a buzzer-beating layup with 0.2 seconds left, capping a 15-point, 16-rebound double-double to wrap up his rookie year in UAAP boys' basketball.
Alfonso Tan also delivered 15 off the bench, while Chris Urbina and TJ Delos Santos churned out 13 and 12, respectively, to help the Blue Eagles salvage a win to end Season 87 at 3-11.
Jaime Gomez de Liano's jumper with 1:22 left erased Ateneo's once-eight-point cushion and sent the Jr. Maroons to a tied tally of 65-all.
After the two teams traded makes, Bruce Tubongbanua then actually gave UPIS a 69-68 edge with three ticks left only to see Leal save the day for the Blue Eagles.
Tubongbanua wound up with 16 points, as Nathen Egea topped the scoring column for the 0-14 Jr. Maroons with 25 markers and 15 rebounds.
UE takes advantage of resting Adamson
University of the East also capped off its campaign on a high after toppling Mark Esperanza-less defending champion Adamson, 69-60.
Sizco Roquid, Martin Almanza, and Dennis Dahino poured in nine points apiece off the bench to show the way for the Jr. Warriors, who finished a once-playoff-seeking campaign at 6-8.
Nonetheless, the red-and-white most definitely wanted to end its season the right way, as it led by as many as 18, 43-25.
Johnrey Abayon had 14 points and eight rebounds to pace the Baby Falcons (7-7) who will be moving to the semifinals round back with Esperanza, whom they only rested for this non-bearing game.
The Scores
First Game
ATENEO 70— Tan 15, Leal 15, Urbina 13, Delos Santos 12, Ymasa 8, Kaw 5, Espinas 2, Lagdamen 0, Asistio 0, Lacsamana 0, Aquino 0
UPIS 69— Egea 25, Tubongbanua 16, Melicor 11, Hallare 10, Gomez de Liano 7, Uvero 0 Pascual 0, Coronel 0, Hernandez 0, Poquiz 0, Gepitan 0
Quarters: 20-25, 40-43, 57-53, 70-69
Second Game
UE 69— Roquid 9, Almanza 9, Dahino 9, Lorenzo 7, Bual 7, Sajili 7, Bana 6, Lagat 5, Diaz 4, Sabroso 2, Alejandro 2, Farochilen 2, Chua 0, Timbol 0, Cuevas 0, Abellar 0
ADAMSON 60— Abayon 14, Perez 13, Medina 11, Sajili 7, Matiliano 5, Decatoria 4, Murillo 2, Jenodia 2, Umali 2, Garcia 0, Penafiel 0, De Jesus 0, Caspe 0
Quarters: 23-14, 39-25, 43-56, 69-60
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