Cortez, Marasigan key to La Salle’s crucial victory over UP as Mason returns
La Salle kept an inside track on securing one of the two remaining Final Four slots in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament by repeating over defending champion University of the Philippines, 87-82, on Saturday.
More importantly, the Green Archers managed to reinsert a returning Mason Amos into its rotation, something that could provide a boost to the squad’s hopes of surviving a topsy-turvy end to the elimination round.
But coach Topex Robinson is in no rush to put heavy pressure on Amos, who is back after recovering from an MCL tear in his right knee during a first-round game against National University more than a month ago.
“We want to make sure that we don’t put him in harm’s way,” Robinson said of Amos, who was out for seven games before being cleared to don the green-and-white for the pivotal contest that enabled them to snap a three-game skid.
Amos had three points and three rebounds in 22 minutes for La Salle, which improved to 7-6 to remain ahead of closest pursuers, Adamson and Far Eastern University, for fourth spot in the standings.
FEU earlier tied Adamson at 6-7 after an 84-77 victory at the expense of University of the East, which went winless for the second time in the last five seasons. It was the Tamaraws’ second straight win after defeating the Archers by a hair last weekend.
“Every time I would look at him, he would tell me to put him in,” Robinson said. “It’s a big gamble on my part and I don’t want to risk his career.”
Regardless of minute restrictions, having another body like Amos will be crucial for La Salle, which can assure itself of a semifinal berth with a win over archrival Ateneo on Wednesday at the same venue.
It was a big result for the Archers, who bucked a 22-6 deficit at the start, to make it a seesaw affair until Jacob Cortez hit a pair of big baskets that put them ahead for good.
Vhoris Marasigan dropped 14 of his 17 in the second half in a huge lift, while a pair of baskets by Earl Abadam late put away a UP side that settled for a 10-4 record to end the eliminations.
Even in defeat, the Fighting Maroons will go into the Final Four with the twice-to-beat advantage as the No. 2 seed and will face the No. 3 seed, which could also go to the Archers, depending on how things transpire in the final two playdates.
University of Santo Tomas currently sits third at 7-5 and will try to clinch a Final Four berth on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena opposite National University, which is now sure of the No. 1 seed with its 11-2 slate.
