UAAP: Chris Javier's game-winner gives Red Warriors revenge over Maroons

(Updated 6:11pm) With all eyes on University of the East Red Warriors point guard Roi Sumang on the final play of the game, the sure-handed floor general found an open Chris Javier in the corner, and the power forward launched the first three-pointer of his UAAP seniors division career without hesitation. The shot beat the buzzer and went right in, breaking the hearts of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and their fans. UE got revenge on UP for their first round thrashing, squeaking by with a 79-76 win, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in the 75th season of the UAAP. “First time ko maka-shoot ng three points, game winner pa”, said Javier, with a sheepish grin after the game. Both teams were languishing at the bottom of the UAAP standings with similar 1-8 cards before tip-off, and they found themselves tied at 76-all after Chris Ball’s short foray to the hoop, off a pass from Alvin Padilla. But the two sides failed to put up any points in the last two minutes, until Chris Javier found himself open for a three-pointer, giving them the win and a half-game lead over the Adamson University Soaring Falcons (2-9). “Akala ko next year pa ako pupunta dito [the media room]”, said Coach Boysie Zamar, who took over for Jerry Codinera at the start of the second round. “It’s a magical win.” It was Zamar's first win as UE mentor since Season 66. The Iskolars ng Bayan put together a 7-2 run midway through the fourth quarter, as UP regained their footing after a feeble third quarter, until a jumper by Gene Belleza distanced them, 74-69, 4:07 left. The teams sparred against each other en route to the 76-all deadlock, until UP, just like the rest of their games, struggled to find anyone who was willing to take on the role of closer for the Maroons. The Warriors used a solid third quarter rally to junk a five-point UP lead, 42-37, eliciting strong performances from veterans Roi Sumang and Adrian Santos, to overwhelm the Maroons. UE's response was a 11-4 run that gave them the lead, 48-44, 7:32 remaining in the third, after a swift cut by Santos down low. Coach Ricky Dandan and the Maroons prevented their opponents from running away with the game, getting back to within four points after a short stab to the basket by forward Diony Hipolito, but the Warriors kept on parrying, drawing points from their veterans to close the defining quarter at 66-58. Santos scored slowly and steadily  six points in that early run, and got enough help from his comrades later as team captain Erwin Duran, center Chris Javier, and Sumang all sponsored a spirited comeback from one of the chippier teams in the league. It was Santos, however, who beat the buzzer with a short jumper to build an eight-point distance between them with a quarter to play. It was apt revenge for their first round encounter, when the Maroons scored their first win of the season convincingly, 63-48, last August 19. UE hit the ground running in the first period as UP licked its heels, the former bursting to an 8-0 start. The rush would prove to be a short-lived, as the Maroons went neck-to-neck against their neighbors in the lower half of the standings, drilling in seven straight, capped off by a three-pointer by San Beda High School alum Alvin Padilla. UE relied on stints near the hoop and on the charity stripe, while UP counted on its long range shots and their crafty drives, and one such move by Montecastro sealed the first quarter lead for the Katipunan-based squad, 19-17. The Maroons momentarily borrowed the lead in the second quarter, owing to early bad offensive execution for UE and a steady offensive flow for UP. The Maroons never ran out of options, with six different players contributing to UP’s cause. Sumang and the Warriors, however, outscored the Maroons 15-10 in the last seven minutes of the first half, drawing seven points from Jhon Rey Sumido, who drew them closer to UP at the half, 40-37. Sumang was brilliant once more, shaking off a hamstring injury to post a line of 20 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Javier added 20 more points, including the game-winner, to tie his career-high. UP got five players scoring at least eight points, but still succumbed in the end. The Maroons now find themselves in possession of solo-eighth place, with a 1-9 record. - AMD, GMA News The scores: UE 79 – Javier 20, Sumang 20, Santos 10, Belleza 9, Sumido 8, Duran 6, Alberto 2, Hernandez 2, Flores 2, Villarias 0, Olayon 0, Galanza 0 UP 76 – Silungan 16, Ball 14, Padilla 12, Soyud 10, Gamboa 8, Manuel 6, Lopez 4, Hipolito 4, Montecastro 2, Mbah 0, Romero 0, Gallarza 0, Asilum 0 Quarter scoring: 17-19, 37-40, 66-58, 79-76