LA SALLE was pushed to the limit by University of the East and its 4-0 run in the last 23 seconds of regulation, before the defending champions escaped with a 97-88 win in overtime of their UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball second-round opener on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Red Warriors actually seized a 66-61 lead midway through the payoff period, but Henry Agunanne and Doy Dungo came through to swing momentum back to the Green Archers.
UE's Toper Lagat and Lance Sabroso got back-to-back hits in the dying seconds of regulation to force extra time only to see Joaquin Tovera and Mason Amos take charge for the green-and-white and keep them at bay once and for all.
La Salle also had to overcome a scoreless five-minute stretch early in the second quarter and an apparent right leg injury to Jacob Cortez, who exited shortly after.
Greenlight for Green Archers
The victory gave the Green Archers a timely response after back-to-back losses to new-age rival University of the Philippines and Adamson left them at 3-4 at the end of the first round.
Amos delivered five of his 17 points in overtime and grabbed nine rebounds, while Jcee Macalalag shot 6-of-8 from the field for 14 points. Agunnane added 13 points, and Dungo chipped in 12.
Lagat erupted for 20 points after a scoreless first half, including two triples in overtime, but his late heroics were not enough to finish the Red Warriors' upset bid.
UE absorbed its 28th consecutive defeat, moving past the Fighting Maroons' 27-game losing streak from 2012 to 2014 for the second-longest drought in the Final Four era.
Still, the red-and-white put up a fight against the green-and-white, just three days after doing the same against UP.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 97 — Amos 17, Macalalag 14, Agunanne 13, Dungo 12, Tovera 11, Abadam 9, Pablo 6, Cortez J. 4, Gagate 4, Sardon 3, Marasigan 2, Cortez M. 2, Quines 0.
UE 88 — Lagat 20, Sabroso 18, Tanedo 16, Cruz-Dumont 13, Robles 9, Vasquez 4, Jimenez 4, Ajani 2, Javier 2, Dungca 0, Perez 0, Apostol 0.
Quarters: 27-16, 40-29, 57-50, 74-74, 97-88.
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