Terrence Fortea drilled a three-pointer to propel the UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) to the Finals of the Season 88 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.
Fortea’s clutch from beyond the arc in the game’s last minute helped UPMBT edge the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 82-81, in their final-four match on Dec. 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was a game of lead-changes between the Fighting Maroons and the Growling Tigers in the first half. UST started with an 11-0 run, while the UPMBT answered with a 21-0 run of its own. The Fighting Maroons had a seven-point lead over UST, 43-36, at the halftime break.
The two teams battled in the third quarter like true warriors. The Growling Tigers snatched the lead, 57-54, on an and-one play from Nic Cabañero and a layup by Gelo Crisostomo, with less than four minutes remaining. The Fighting Maroons then, led by Harold Alarcon, slowly crawled back and regained a slim advantage, 65-62, heading to the final frame.
It was then a nip and tuck affair between the UPMBT and UST in the payoff period. With the Growling Tigers ahead by two points, 81-79, Fortea buried a triple with 48.5 seconds left to play.
The Growling Tigers had several opportunities to retake the lead. Cabañero attempted a layup but UPMBT’s Francis Nnoruka swatted his shot. The Fighting Maroons however failed to capitalize on its ball possession giving the UST another chance to steal the game.
Off a time out, Cabañero missed a fade-away jumper resulting to a rebound by UPMBT’s Reyland Torres who passed it to Alarcon. Alarcon then wasted some time and threw the ball up in the air with five seconds left as Gani Stevens tapped the ball to the backcourt, while Gerry Abadiano shielded it from UST’s Forthsky Padrigao as time expired.
The win paved for the fifth straight Finals appearance of the Fighting Maroons and their sixth in the last seven UAAP seasons.
Alarcon paced the Fighting Maroons with 22 points, while Nnoruka had 19 points, nine rebounds, three block shots, and two assists. Rey Remogat chipped in nine points, while Fortea and Abadiano came through with eight points apiece.
UPMBT awaits the winner of the deciding game of the other final-four matchup between top-ranked National University Bulldogs and No. 4 De La Salle University Green Archers on Dec. 6, 3:30 p.m. also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.