Warriors won't lay down arms

MANILA, Philippines - They may be out of the semis picture but the University of the East Warriors are not done slaying giants.

The Warriors dropped the upset axe on a third semis-bound team in De La Salle, 80-74, yesterday in the UAAP seniors basketball tourney at the Araneta Coliseum.

Paul Lee (19 points) and Raphy Reyes (career-high 17 markers) delivered the lethal blows as UE posted its fifth win against eight losses, stalling the bid of the Green Archers (8-5) to finish in the Top 2.

Vacation-bound National U also pulled off a shocker, a 62-59 disposal of F4 qualifier Adamson (also 8-5) behind the triple of big man Jewel Ponferrada in the second game.

“We’re fighting for self-respect,” said UE coach Lawrence Chongson, whose team failed to reach the semis for the first time in nine years after losing to National U last Sunday (68-69). “Whatever happened the whole season, in the end, we missed the Final Four, but then we just have to salvage whatever we can, including our pride and self-respect.”

The DLSU cagers were the third semifinalists to fall to the Red Warriors, following No. 3 Adamson (71-63) and No. 2 Ateneo (62-60).

“It will be a consolation that we beat almost all the contenders for the title. How I wish we’re in the running but that’s our fate. Our aim now is to continue fighting and at least make our supporters happy in our last games,” Chongson said.

Lee fired five points while Reyes shot six in the payoff period as the Warriors seized a 77-71 spread entering the last 44.9 seconds.

La Salle threatened to within 77-74 via Joseph Marata’s trey but Ken Acibar’s split off Yutien Andrada extended UE’s lead to 78-74. Lucas Tagarda sealed the win for UE by stripping Marata of possession, drawing a foul, and calmly sinking his charities.

James Martinez complemented Lee and Reyes with 13 markers.

Spider Webb topscored for DLSU with 14 followed by Luigi dela Paz with 13 and Philip Paredes with 10.

The Green Archers earlier threatened to break the game wide open when they built a 22-12 lead in the first. But the Warriors crept back into the game with Reyes and Lee leading the counter-assault.

Ponferrada fired the dagger triple in the last 2.9 seconds as the Bulldogs completed their fightback from a 49-57 deficit in the last 7:08 to improve to 6-7 at the expense of AdU.

“We just played relaxed and pressure-free after our devastating loss to FEU,” said NU mentor Eric Gonzales, referring to their 62-77 setback that ousted them from the semis.

Ponferrada went two-for-two from beyond the arc.