LA SALLE's quest for redemption isn't over just yet.
With the cards stacked against them, the Green Archers staved off repeated rallies and forced a decider.
Jcee Macalalag made sure that the Taft side will live to fight another day, taking down top seed National U, 87-77, Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The veteran guard scored all but two of his nine points in the payoff period, to go with four rebounds and two assists to ensure that La Salle extends this UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Final Four duel to a decider on Saturday, still at the Big Dome.
Jacob Cortez paced the Green Archers with 13 points, four assists, and two steals, while Mike Phillips registered a double-double with 12 points and 17 boards.
Vhoris Marasigan also produced 10 points and six rebounds, EJ Gollena returned from his one-game ban and got 11 points, and Luis Pablo had nine points and two boards, as the green-and-white finally got one over the Bulldogs after being swept in the elimination round.
Kean Baclaan also marked his return for La Salle and nabbbed six points and two assists after missing the last eight games of the prelims due to an MCL injury.
Doing it in the do-or-die
"We just tried to prolong the series. These guys just decided to have more practices with this lineup," said coach Topex Robinson, elated with the effort that this side brought in this contest.
The Green Archers looked poised to run away with the win after erecting a 71-54 lead early in the fourth, but Reinhard Jumamoy and Jake Figueroa trimmed the lead down to eight, 71-63 with 6:35 to go.
But Mason Amos' stepback three sparked the green-and-white's 7-0 response that restored order and brought the lead back to 15, 78-63, with 4:58 to play.
It was a heartbreaker for NU which could not take full advantage of its twice-to-beat bonus.
Figueroa poured his heart out with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, but committed eight of his crew's 15 turnovers.
Omar John chipped in 12 points and five boards, but no other Bulldog breached double-figures in scoring, as they suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time in this campaign.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 87 - Cortez 13, Phillips 12, Gollena 11, Marasigan 10, Macalalag 9, Pablo 9, Amos 8, Abadam 6, Baclaan 6, Dungo 3, Nwankwo 0.
NU 77 - Figueroa 20, John 12, Enriquez 8, Manansala 8, Jumamoy 7, Francisco 6, Palacielo 6, Garcia 4, Santiago 2, Padrones 2, Parks 2, Dela Cruz 0, Tulabut 0.
Quarters: 28-17, 48-46, 67-54, 87-77.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
