ROUND 3 is on.
La Salle overcame the odds and set up a titular clash against the University of the Philippines by taking down top-seeded National U, 78-73, in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Final Four Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
And no less than Jacob Cortez made sure that the rematch will come to fruition, knocking down nine of his 29 points in the final canto, including the go-ahead pull-up jumper with 56.3 seconds remaining.
But the Green Archers still had to sweat it out, standing their ground, as they foiled numerous attempts from the Bulldogs, including honest defensive coverage from Luis Pablo and Cortez on Reinhard Jumamoy's layup attempt with 10.1 seconds left.
Cortez extended the lead to three with a split, but Gelo Santiago could not get a grip of his rebound, leading to a jumpball, with the possession arrow favoring La Salle with 5.1 to go.
Kean Baclaan, facing his old alma mater, iced the game with a pair of free throws with 3.6 seconds left.
With this victory, the fourth-seeded Green Archers fought back from a twice-to-beat disadvantage to reach the finals for the third straight year - and more importantly, get a shot at redemption for the crown they lost a season ago.
Game One of the best-of-three championship round is on Wednesday at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
La Salle goes from fourth seed to finals
Cortez shot 11-of-16 from the field, including 4-of-5 from deep, to go with four rebounds and four assists, as he gets his wish to redeem last season's runner-up team vs. new-age rival UP.
Earl Abadam added 14 points and three rebounds, Vhoris Marasigan chipped in 10 points and two boards, and Mike Phillips produced eight points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals in the win.
"If you're gonna define how our season went, it's something we should be grateful for. We let our faith guide us in this challenging season," said coach Topex Robinson.
Jake Figueroa did all he could to tow NU to the promised land, unfurling 21 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals in this painful exit, as the Jhocson side bungled a twice-to-beat bonus for the second time in the Final Four era.
Jolo Manansala fired 13 points and four boards, but got hurt on a bad fall off an aerial collission with Cortez when he made a late three-point attempt in the final 1.3 ticks.
PJ Palacielo chimed in 13 points, and Omar John had six points and seven rebounds in this losing effort.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 78 – Cortez 29, Abadam 14, Marasigan 10, Phillips 8, Macalalag 8, Baclaan 4, Amos 3, Pablo 2, Gollena 0.
NU 73 – Figueroa 21, Manansala 13, Palacielo 13, John 6, Padrones 6, Jumamoy 5, Garcia 4, Parks 4, Enriquez 1, Santiago 0, Francisco 0, Tulabut 0.
Quarters: 14-20, 30-36, 53-54, 78-73.
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