GERRY Abadiano knew he had to make up for lost ground after an abyssmal Game One showing in the UAAP Season 88 Finals.
Lucky for the University of the Philippines, that old, reliable jumper was in the bag once more for the graduating team captain.
Abadiano drained three straight of his signature jumpers in the crucial junctures of the game to salvage State U and earn this close 66-63 Game Two win over La Salle Sunday at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
And in the process, in front of a raucous 22,412 in attendance, the Fighting Maroons extended this trilogy against their new-age rival Green Archers to a fitting winner-take-all Game Three on Wednesday at Araneta Coliseum.
Abadiano drilled 17 points and two rebounds in the series extender, atoning for his silent eight-point showing four days prior and keeping that repeat dream alive.
La Salle, though, still had a shot to win the game, but Vhoris Marasigan's brave trey rattled out of the rim, leading to Francis Nnoruka hauling down the biggest of his 13 rebounds before icing the game with a free throw split with 3.8 seconds to go for his 13th point of the contest.
Rey Remogat also redeemed himself from that paltry Game One showing, notching 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from distance, Gani Stevens registered eight points and nine boards, and Jacob Bayla was once again doing the yeoman's job on defense, as he notched six points and five rebounds in the win.
La Salle bow falls short
Jacob Cortez, the hero of Game One, paced the Green Archers with 16 points and 14 rebounds, but was blanketed by Bayla in the crucial possessions of the game this time out.
Luis Pablo added 12 points, six boards, three blocks, and two assists, and Mike Phillips had eight points and 14 rebounds in the defeat.
Marasigan actually went 4-of-16 from the field for his eight points, six boards, and two dimes, as his courageous efforts down the stretch blew up in his face to see La Salle lose for the first time this season against UP.
The Scores:
UP 66 – Abadiano 17, Nnoruka 13, Remogat 12, Stevens 8, Bayla 6, Alarcon 5, Felicilda 3, Fortea 2, Yñiguez 0, Alter 0, Belmonte 0, Torres 0.
LA SALLE 63 – Cortez 13, Pablo 12, Marasigan 8, Phillips 8, Macalalag 7, Abadam 4, Gollena 3, Dungo 3, Amos 2, Baclaan 0, Nwankwo 0, Daep 0.
Quarters: 13-20, 35-33, 49-47, 66-63.
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