Crucial call seals Archers win vs Falcons

Games on Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m. – UE vs UP

4 p.m. – ADMU vs UST

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle averted another fourth-quarter collapse and escaped with a 70-67 squeaker over Adamson in a match that sparked controversy due to an unsportsmanlike foul called against the Falcons in the endgame in the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday..

Jeron Teng cashed in on his two freebies off Gian Abrigo to give La Salle a 67-65 cushion and after an unproductive offensive for AdU, the Archers took advantage of the unsportsmanlike foul slapped on Abrigo to extend their lead to five with 14.6 seconds left.

Abrigo was called for the infraction while jockeying for position with Norbert Torres with the Archers set to inbound with 15.9 ticks left.  Per UAAP rules, a foul during deadball situation in the last two minutes is an automatic unsportsmanlike foul, resulting in two FTs plus ball possession. Torres sank the freebies, got fouled in the next play and made a split for a 70-65 cushion.

The Archers, who squandered a 17-point lead just like in their setbacks to FEU (79-83) and UE (83-85), improved to 3-3, dragging their victims into four-team logjam at third spot.

“I’m still not satisfied with how we finished the game. We still have to work on that. It’s not a matter of mental (toughness), we just have to learn to play for four quarters,” said DLSU coach Juno Sauler. 

AdU coach Leo Austria was furious with call made by Francisco Olivar and said the school will review the tape to see if it’s worth filing a protest.

“It’s very frustrating. That call shouldn’t have been made. I don’t know what triggered that referee from calling that. It was a good game, the referees should let the players decide (the outcome),” said Austria.

He said he was aware of the rule on foul away during deadball but insisted there shouldn’t have been a foul. “Is there a foul?  They’re jockeying for position. If there was a foul, maybe it was Torres who should be called because he was the one who initiated the pushing.”

Asked for his sentiment on officiating, Sauler said: “Officials are doing great, actually,” before adding, “No comment.”

Commissioner Chito Loyzaga declined to comment, saying he still needed to review the tape.

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas hacked out a routine 79-69 nipping of University of the Philippines to get back on track.

Determined to bounce back from their sorry loss to unbeaten Far Eastern last week, the Tigers drew at least nine points or more from five players led by Aljon Mariano’s 18 markers and six boards and Kevin Ferrer’s double-double performance (16-10) to post their fourth win in six outings and solidify their hold of second spot behind the Tams (6-0).

The Tigers handed the Maroons their sixth straight loss this season. Head to head, UST is 13-0 against UP dating back to 2006, the longest current streak one enjoys against a competitor.

“Nakabawi, ang sama ng nakaraang game (It was a good bounce back from the last game, where we played miserably),” said UST coach Pido Jarencio, referring to their 67-77 losing outing versus the Tams (6-0) where his tiring wards collapsed in the endgame.

“Actually yung game na yun, kasalanan ko; yung rotation ko mababaw kaya napagod sila pagdating sa dulo (That was my fault, actually, I didn’t rotate well so the starters got tired in the endgame),” admitted Jarencio who only used nine players versus FEU, with four of them playing over 30 minutes.

Against UP, Jarencio could afford to utilize his bench and fielded in 13 men. Karim Abdul chipped in 14 markers and eight boards while Clark Bautista added 12 and Kim Lo had nine as the Thomasians continued to adjust without injured veteran Jeric Teng.

The Tigers seized a 64-54 lead and quashed every uprising that the Maroons mounted. 

“Magandang panalo ito pang-kumpyansa going to our next game against Ateneo (This is a confidence-booster heading to our next game against Ateneo),” said Jarencio.

Samuel Marata shot 16 points for UP, which missed center Raul Soyud who’s serving a one-game suspension for committing a second unsportsmanlike foul in the Maroons’ last assignment.