Abadiano clutch as Maroons drag Archers into decider
University of the Philippines needed a win to push its title defense into a deciding game.
Gerry Abadiano clinched one for the Maroons.
Abadiano came through in the clutch with crucial baskets that helped UP seal a 69-66 victory over La Salle in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“I just wanted to win,” Abadiano said after scoring six straight Maroons points in the clutch to keep the Archers at bay. “I didn’t want to play my last game [with UP] and end up losing the championship.”
“I just took whatever the defense gave me. I guess it’s also because we were much hungrier after losing Game 1,” he added.
Apart from Abadiano’s clutch baskets, UP’s defense also came to the fore in the endgame, foiling any late comebacks by La Salle.
“We went back to basics, especially on defense,” Abadiano said.
And now both teams return for a deciding match for all the marbles.
“We can’t be too happy [about the Game 2 win],” Abadiano warned. “There’s still a Game 3 and that’s do-or-die for us.”
UP and La Salle have battled it out in the last two Finals.
Back in Season 86, a Kevin Quiambao-led La Salle defeated UP in three games. Then in Season 87, Quentin Millora-Brown rose to the occasion, pushing the Maroons past the Archers, also in three games.
Tigresses regain crown
For a trilogy like theirs, it’s fitting that everything ends with one more rubber match.
“We just lived to fight another day,” assistant coach Christian Luanzon said. “Come Wednesday, one thing they can expect from us is to give it our all.”
Earlier in the day, University of Santo Tomas used a strong second half to crush National University, 79-64, in the deciding Game 3 to bag the women’s crown.
“I just kept telling them in the dugout that we need to start playing our individual and team defense to clamp down on NU’s shooters,” coach Haydee Ong said.
“I also told them to show our identity by playing our run-and-gun game to build that kind of margin.”
UST led by just seven points at the half, 37-30, before going on a pivotal blitz.
The Tigresses built a huge 18-point gap by the end of the penultimate period, 71-53.
Kent Pastrana led the charge for UST with an all-around game of 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and a block. She was named Finals MVP.
“I wouldn’t have gotten this award if it wasn’t for the Lord, my teammates, coaches and the people who believed in me,” an emotional Pastrana said.
Before the men’s game, Janrey Pasaol was named season MVP.
Pasaol averaged 15.43 points, 7.5 assists, 4.14 rebounds and 2.14 steals per game, but FEU barely missed the semifinals with a 7-7 (win-loss) record.
“I just wanted to bring FEU to the Final Four. This season, we almost made it, but our fate was with another team,” Pasaol said. “We have to limit that next season in order for us to get in.”
