Dolphins squeak past Archers

Robert Sanz sank a back-breaking three-pointer with four seconds left as Philippine Christian U squeaked past La Salle, 78-77, and into the win-column of the UAAP-NCAA Final Showdown at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum yesterday.

PCU played minus several key players, including Leo Gaspi who served a game suspension for his involvement in a fight in their game against Ateneo Tuesday, but the Dolphins showed a big fighting heart in nipping the Archers and pumping life in their bid for the semifinal round of the benefit tourney.

Sanz proved to have the biggest heart among the Dolphins yesterday with the 6-foot-2 forward unleashing a crucial triple that decided the outcome of the closely-fought match.

Mike Cortez tried to salvage the game by going coast to coast for a layup in the last four seconds. But he missed the shot and the Archers bid their semis hopes goodbye on their second loss in three outings.

La Salle bowed to San Sebastian, 66-59, Sunday before repulsing Jose Rizal, 88-82, Tuesday.

University of the East remained one of three unbeaten UAAP teams as it walloped St. Benilde, 72-57, earlier.

James Yap dished out another solid all-round game and scored a game-high 24 points for the Warriors who made it three in a row against the NCAA side. The Blazers, the NCAA runners-up, suffered their third loss in as many outings.

Arnold Booker and Olan Omiping added nine and eight points, respectively.

Minus Gaspi and Bernzon Franco, the Dolphins went to Loreto Soriano, Jojo Roque and Sanz as they dragged the Archers in a seesawing encounter that wasn’t decided until the closing seconds.

Down by three at 72-75 with time down to 1:27, the Archers seized a two-point lead a minute later on a five-point swing aided by a crucial unsportsmanlike foul called on Leo Gatdula.

But the Dolphins didn’t lose poise and composure, setting up Sanz for the trey that ended up as the deciding basket.

Sanz went 2-of-6 from the three-point area and finished with 15 points, three rebounds and one assist. Soriano led all scorers with 24, including seven triples. Roque added one trey and a total of 17 points.

La Salle, which also missed a key player in Carlo Sharma trailed by one, 21-22, after the first period but sat on a 36-30 cushion at halftime.