Warriors ward off Tigers, forge playoff for No. 4 vs Bulldogs

Game on Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4 p.m. – UE vs NU (playoff for No. 4)

Game on Sunday (Mall of Asia Arena)

4 p.m. – FEU vs DLSU (playoff for No. 2)

MANILA, Philippines – Thriving on the survival instinct that’s been keeping them going for the past three weeks, a determined University of the East nipped Santo Tomas, 78-73, to step closer to their goal of making it to the Final Four of UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday.

In danger of getting the boot after winning only four of their first nine games, the Warriors patiently picked up their game and worked their way to five straight triumphs ending the elims to catch up with National U at fourth with 9-5 and force a playoff.

The Warriors will figure in one more do-or-die on Saturday, also at the Big Dome, in their dispute for the last semis berth with NU.

“We’ve been fighting to stay alive for the past three weeks and we just have to do it again one more time to make it to the Final Four. That’s our immediate goal coming to the season because UE has not made it to the Final Four in the last four years, I think,” said UE coach Derrick Pumaren.

The Warriors pulled off their playoff-clinching win despite benching Charles Mammie for the entire first half. Pumaren said Mammie came in late for the game and was given disciplinary action of a game-long sit-out, if not for the intercession of his teammates.

“I was kinda pissed with Charles for coming in late (without valid excuse) and I wasn’t gonna use him. Discipline is priority for this team and he can’t do that. If I can bench Roi (Sumang) for disciplinary reasons, I can do that to him, even if we sacrifice losing this game,” said Pumaren.

“But the boys asked me if we can use him and I told them you better pray that we win, if not, that’s the last time you’ll way the uniform ‘coz he’s gonna be out of the team,” he added.

Mammie finished with seven points, five rebounds and three assists in 17 minutes.

“I went to Makati to get my socks, that’s why I was late and I know I’m late,” said Mammie.

The Warriors shifted to high gear in the second half, where Mammie, Dan Alberto, Mark Olayon and Bong Galanza joined forces in giving the host team a 58-45 tear at the 1:30 mark.

The Tigers, who were looking for a graceful exit, launched a fight back and came to within 65-71 but Paul Varilla took the cudgels and knocked down a jumper and a reverse lay-up to restore a 10-point cushion going to the last 1:59.

Varilla scored eight of his nine points in the payoff period to help quell UST’s uprising.

“Paul made big shots, especially in the fourth quarter when UST was making a run and trying to cut down the lead and he’s always there for the answer. He’s one of the underrated players in the league but as you can see, he plays a lot of minutes under me because of the little things he can do,” Pumaren said.

Galanza (17), Alberto (15) and Sumang (10) led scoring for UE.

Aljon Mariano, playing his last game in the UAAP, paced UST (5-9) with 18. The Tigers missed the semis for the first time since 2010.

The Scores:

First Game

UE 78 – Galanza 17, Alberto 15, Sumang 10, Varilla 9, Javier 8, Mammie 7, Palma 4, Arafat 3, Guiang 2, Olayon 2, Jumao-as 1.

UST 73 – Mariano 18, Daquioag 16, Abdul 13, Pe 9, Lo 7, Sheriff 6, Vigil 4, Basibas 0, Faundo 0, Gayosa 0, Lao 0, Subido 0.

Quarterscores: 15-17, 36-35, 60-50, 78-73.