UAAP: Lowly UE upsets defending champs Ateneo on buzzer-beater

(Updated 4:42pm) For Chris Javier, hitting game-winners is becoming a habit. Roi Sumang connected anew with Javier on the last play of the game and his big man delivered once more, hitting a jump shot to give the University of the East Red Warriors a second straight win, 79-77, Thursday at the SM MOA Arena. Defending champion Ateneo had the lead at the end of each quarter and seemed on its way to its tenth win, powered by strong play from its two stars, Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena. But UE never said die. "We have nothing to lose, so we just needed to play our game and execute," said swingman Gene Belleza, who posted a career-high 28 points on a scorching 5-of-8 clip from downtown. "We're happy but we're not satisfied, there's still a lot of things we can improve on as a team." After calling a timeout, UE had seven seconds left to win the game. Sumang drove in the lane and faked a shot, then rifled a pass to an open Chris Javier by the baseline. The former San Beda Red Cub responded by knocking down his second consecutive game-winner. The Warriors earned their vengeance after a 68-51 loss to Ateneo in the first round, and improved to 3-8 in the standings. Ateneo suffered only its second loss for a 9-2 card. Last Sunday, in a similar situation versus the UP Fighting Maroons, Sumang found Javier in the corner for a game-winning triple, 79-76. "This game is much sweeter," said UE head coach Boysie Zamar, comparing this win to the UP stunner. "I'm only two weeks into the job and I don't really have a vision for this team yet," he added, "but I just want to do my best and contribute to the community." Roi Sumang added 15 points and 10 assists. Chris Javier notched 15 points as well and added six rebounds. Adrian Santos also tallied a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. In the final period, UE played aggressively for possessions, as Belleza and JR Sumido split a 10-4 run, thanks to athletic play and long-range shooting, to pull ahead, 63-60, 7:46 remaining. But the Eagles exploited the Warriors' interior defense as Frank Golla, Ryan Buenafe and Juami Tiongson ignited an 8-0 run, imposing a 68-63 lead with under six minutes remaining. The Warriors hit back hard, as Belleza and Sumang connected from beyond the arc and Javier scored on a fast break. Ateneo kept pace with Greg Slaughter converting on an and-one and Kiefer Ravena nailing a lay-up. A jumper by Tiongson drew the Eagles ahead by four, but Belleza quickly answered with a bucket, and a transition lay-up by Sumido knotted the game at 75-all with a minute and change to play. Ateneo adjusted to UE's efforts to clog the paint, but long jumpers from Ravena and Tiongson did not connect. The Warriors finally secured a miss, and launched the ball the other way for Santos to finish on the break. The basket put the Red Warriors in the driver’s seat, 77-75. With 20 ticks remaining, Ateneo tried to hit again from deep. Tiongson missed, but luckily, Ravena was there to clean up the miss, forcing a 77-77 deadlock with seven seconds on the clock. Zamar then called for timeout to set up the final play. Ateneo actually started strong, shaking off an early 7-2 lead by UE to finish the first quarter with a flurry of baskets, going up 19-10 after ten minutes. In the second quarter, Sumang split at the line and Belleza followed up with his second three-ball of the game, to trim their deficit to five. Ateneo pushed back as Gonzaga answered with a triple, and Ravena and Juami Tiongson scored at the rim in a 7-2 stretch for a 26-16 lead. Without Slaughter on the floor, the Warriors grew bold. Adrian Santos and Sumang attacked the rim for seven points in an 8-0 run for UE. The Eagles were forced to call timeout and reinsert their starting center with under six minutes remaining in the period. Slaughter immediately drew a foul and split at the line, but the Warriors matched them nearly to the bucket. A jumper by Santos and Belleza's third triple briefly gave UE the lead, 34-32, with a minute and a half to play, but despite the fact that the Warriors continued to crowd the paint, Ateneo pulled off tip-ins from Slaughter and Salva to hold a 36-34 lead at the break. The Warriors continued to hustle their way to put points on the scoreboard, as Javier scored on a put-back and in transition on consecutive trips, but charities by Slaughter tied the game anew at 38-all. Ateneo then turned to their big men to carry the load. Chua was instrumental for the Eagles over the next four minutes, scoring seven points in a 9-5 stretch. Slaughter then dropped six straight for the Eagles around the basket to create a 53-47 lead, 1:39 left in the third. Belleza and Sumang came alive in the final minute to score the Warriors' next four, and a hook shot by Javier drew UE even at 53 apiece with 15 seconds to go. Former Rookie of the Year Ravena buried a three at the buzzer though, to keep Ateneo ahead, 56-53. The Warriors made their hay from downtown, making 8-for-14 from beyond the arc, or 44 percent. They also outhustled Ateneo in turnover points (23-12) and fast break points (16-12). Greg Slaughter tallied a double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Kiefer Ravena dropped 15 points and seven rebounds, while Justin Chua had a good game off the bench with 11 points and nine rebounds. - AMD/HS, GMA News The scores: UE 79: Belleza 28, Sumang 15, Javier 15, Santos 11, Sumido 7, Duran 3, Villarias 0, Olayon 0, Hernandez 0, Galanza 0 ADMU 77: Slaughter 24, Ravena 15, Chua 11, Gonzaga 9, Tiongson 8, Salva 6, Golla 2, Buenafe 2, Sumalinog 0, Pessumal 0, Elorde 0 Quarter scoring: 10-19, 34-36, 53-56, 79-77