UP books Final Four spot with win over La Salle; Jerom Lastimosa registers career-high in UST beatdown

The UP Fighting Maroons clinched a Final Four spot in UAAP Season 84 after defeating the De La Salle Green Archers, 72-69, on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Taft-based squad made a late rally to erase their 12-point deficit to just two with 10.5 seconds left in the game, 71-69. Ricci Rivero's split gave the Archers a chance to tie the game in the last moments, but Mark Nonoy's three-point attempt did not connect.

Carl Tamayo registered 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Malick Diouf made 15 points and 18 rebounds. Ricci Rivero made 11 points.

With the UP win, the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles were also assured of a twice-to-beat advantage after defeating the NU Bulldogs, 89-75.

Meanwhile, the Adamson Soaring Falcons extended their winning streak to four after a beatdown of the UST Growling Tigers, 80-69. Jerom Lastimos registered a career-high 24 points in the win.

The FEU Tamaraws capped off UAAP Saturday action with a victory over the UE Red Warriors, 91-61.

Ateneo (11-0) and UP (9-2) sit at the top two spots of the league, while DLSU remained third in the rankings with a 7-4 card. FEU and Adamson are tied at the fourth with a 5-6 record, while UST has 3-8. UE remained at the bottom of the standings with no wins in 11 games.

UAAP action will return on Tuesday.

—JMB, GMA News