NO matter how long and winding the road was, redemption is indeed sweetest when the final destination is the mountaintop.
That's exactly what La Salle is experiencing right now after avenging last year's heartbreak against new-age rival University of the Philippines with a memorable 80-72 Game Three conquest on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, once again ascending to the throne by winning the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball crown.
With that, the Green Archers now boast of a 2-1 record vs. the Fighting Maroons in the last three finals.
It's an amazing turnaround for them, as they become only the second four-seed to claim the crown. Coming from a 7-7 elimination round then overcoming twice-to-beat top seed National U, they take home their second championship in three years and 11th overall.
Mike Phillips made sure his collegiate career in Taft will wind down in jubilation, finishing with a 25-point, 18-rebound double-double, as well as two huge blocks in the final minute that all but ensured the win in the clincher in front of 24,339 in attendance.
Defense was the biggest weapon in the green-and-white arsenal, from Phillips' huge swats to holding State U to a solitary field goal inside the last four minutes, and Jacob Cortez tapping the ball out of Rey Remogat's handles to force the turnover with 17.8 seconds left.
La Salle's total team effort
And how fitting is it that Kean Baclaan and Mason Amos - two of the four famed transferees to La Salle this season - locked the win up by making six cold-blooded freebies in the endgame.
Amos ended up with 11 points, four assists, and three boards, Cortez got nine points, five assists, and three rebounds, and Baclaan had eight points and two boards.
Vhoris Marasigan also more than made up for his missed would-be game-winning three in Game Two, scoring the crucial and-one play with 2:15 left that gave the Green Archers the 71-67 lead before fouling out late with his 10 points.
Co-captain Earl Abadam also got his licks with nine points, as La Salle got the championship back to win this title trilogy.
Rey Remogat poured his heart out in this winner-take-all battle, leading UP with 21 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals, as Francis Nnoruka tallied a double-double of 16 points, 15 boards, and two blocks in the runner-up finish.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 80 – Phillips 25, Amos 11, Marasigan 10, Cortez 9, Abadam 9, Baclaan 8, Macalalag 4, Pablo 4, Gollena 0.
UP 72 – Remogat 21, Nnoruka 16, Torres 11, Abadiano 7, Alarcon 6, Stevens 6, Bayla 3, Alter 2, Fortea 0, Belmonte 0, Yñiguez 0, Palanca 0.
Quarters: 19-16, 40-41, 58-59, 80-72
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