UE barges into finals via 92-84 OT win over DLSU

Games on Saturday Ninoy Aquino Stadium 2 p.m. - UP vs ADU 4 p.m. - ADMU vs NU They needed an overtime to do it, but the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors barged into the finals of the 70th UAAP men's basketball tournament on Thursday, in the process forging a rare 14-game sweep of the double-round eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum. Tthe Warriors disposed of the De La Salle Green Archers, 92-84, in a fiery game marred in the closing minute of the first quarter by a near-rumble (click here for full story). The UE squad is only the third team in annals of UAAP men's senior basketball to have made a sweep of the double-round eliminations, after the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in 1993 and the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in 1980. No shooters Unheralded guard-forward Hans Thiele was named best player for his monster double-double performance that produced 16 points and 16 rebounds (nine at the offensive end), and a block for the Warriors Veteran point guard Marcy Arellano also played a brilliant all-around game, tallying 11 points, nine rebounds, and six assists for his team. The score was tied at 77-all when the game went into the 5-minute overtime. The Warriors, led by coach Dindo Pumaren, regained their bearing to unleash a 15-7 run, dashing any hopes of the Green Archers to score an upset. What compounded La Salle's woes in overtime was the absence of top player and scorer Jvee Casio and center Rico Maierhoffer, who both fouled in the early minutes of the extension. Without any hot shooters to bank on, the Archers, led by coach Franz Pumaren, failed to stop the rampage of the Recto-based cagers. Hats off to La Salle "My hats off to De La Salle," coach Dindo Pumaren, younger brother of Franz, said. "They played a great game. We almost lost the ball game in regulation play but my boys showed their true character and resiliency when they were able to close out the game in overtime." The Warriors had a slim three-point lead going to the three-minute mark of the extension period when big man Mark Fampulme scored on a perimeter jump shot from the right corner to up their lead to 85-80. The Archers netted a basket to put the score at 85-82, but the Warriors again countered with a free throw from Mark Borboran, followed by baskets from Fampulme to finally close the door on their opponents. It was a costly defeat for the Archers because it put them in third place in the men's standings with an 9-5 card. Archrivals Ateneo Blue Eagles have a chance to get the second spot and twice-to-beat advantage if it manages to beat the National University (NU) Bulldogs on Saturday. If this happens, whoever wins in the playoff for fourth slot between the Tigers and Tamaraws on Monday will face the Archers in a do-or-die game for the right to face the Eagles in the semifinal round. If the Bulldogs win, the Eagles will then also have a playoff for the chance to get second seeding in the semifinals. Missed free throw In regulation time, top Archer Jayvee Casio had a chance to win the ball game for his team after he was fouled with 3.5 seconds left. But his first freebie rimmed out. He only managed to tie the game at 77 with his second shot. A turnover was then called against the Warriors after a timeout called by head coach Dindo Pumaren, thus giving the ball back to the Archers with 3 seconds left. With no timeouts left, Casio, who scored a game 22 points in the game, then lobbed an end-to-end crosscourt pass towards Cholo Villanueva, who failed to keep his hands on the ball, thus giving possession back to UE with 1.8 seconds left. The Warriors then made a desperate three-point attempt that failed to hit the mark, sending the game into overtime, to the delight of the big UE crowd on hand. The Archers registered their biggest lead in the second quarter – eight points at 42-34. The first encounter between the two squads last July 22 was a no-contest as the Warriors cruised past the Archers, 96-76. Quarter scores (UE-DLSU): 22-16, 44-45, 58-62, 77-all (end of regulation), 92-84 (OT) 70th UAAP Senior Men's Basketball Standings UE: 14-0 ADMU: 9-4 DLSU: 9-5 FEU: 8-6 UST: 8-6 NU: 5-8 ADU: 1-12 UP: 0-13

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