Maroons hang on, force Game 3 vs Archers

UP’s Gerry Abadiano (19)

(UAAP Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — The defending champions are still alive.

University of the Philippines kept its title retention bid alive after escaping the La Salle Green Archers, 66-63, in Game 2 of their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Finals clash Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In front of a capacity crowd of 22,412, the Fighting Maroons forced a winner-take-all Game 3 with a cardiac finish.

Gerry Abadiano powered UP with 17 points and two rebounds. He scored six of his points in the final frame, including the big shots down the stretch. Francis Nnoruka chipped in 12 markers and 13 boards, along with two swats and a steal.

The game was too close to call late, with a split from the line by Mike Phillips tying things up at 59-all with 2:46 remaining.

But Abadiano went on a scoring tear, scoring UP’s next six points, while Jacob Cortez and Vhoris Marasigan put some points up for the Archers.

After a technical free throw by Cortez made it a two-point game, 63-65, Abadiano was blocked by Luis Pablo on a layup. Jacob Bayla also touched the ball last, giving La Salle the opportunity to go for the tie or the lead.

The Archers chose the latter, as Cortez, smothered by the defense of Bayla, was forced to give the ball up to Marasigan.

Marasigan, then, pulled up over Harold Alarcon, but as the ball hit inside, it rimmed out.

A split from the line by Nnoruka iced the game, as Pablo’s heave from way beyond came up short.

Rey Remogat had 12 markers in the win, with all of his field goals coming from beyond the arc. Gani Stevens produced eight points and nine rebounds. UP’s high-scoring guard Alarcon managed just five points on 1-of-10 shooting.

Cortez powered the Archers with 16 points, four rebounds, two steals and an assist, while Pablo had 12 markers, six boards, two dimes, three swats and a steal.

In the UP-La Salle trilogy, all games went to Game 3. The Kevin Quiambao-led Green Archers took the title in Season 86, while the JD Cagulangan-piloted Fighting Maroons brought home the gold last season.

And now, this year’s championship series reaches its crescendo.

The decider will be on Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., at the Araneta Coliseum.