MANZO SHINES ANEW AS UP OUTRUNS BULLDOGS
VETERAN guard Jun Manzo took charge down the stretch, allowing University of the Philippines ( UP) to escape National University ( NU), 8077, in Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines ( UAAP) men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Manzo poured nine of his 14 points in the pivotal fourth quarter, including three crucial free throws in the last 13 seconds. The victory solidified the Maroons’ hold of No. 2 with an 8- 4 record and earned them at least a playoff for a Final Four spot .
“We’re happy with this win but our goal is really to enter the Final Four and eventually beat Ateneo,” said the 5- foot- 9 playmaker, who was also shone in the endgame in the State U’s 81- 77 comeback win over Adamson University last Sunday.
UP survived despite squandering a 13- point lead in the first half. The Maroons could secure a return ticket to the Final Four if No. 3 University of Sto. Tomas beat No. 5 De La Salle University at press time.
“The expectations on us are a bit a higher than that now. It’s like the attitude is that we must be there ( semifinals),” said UP head coach Bo Perasol.
In the second game, Far Eastern University ( FEU) boosted its Final Four bid after eliminating Adamson, 63- 60.
The Tamaraws erected a 14- point lead en route to foiling the Soaring Falcons’ late fightback. FEU is now 7- 6 at No. 4.
Prized recruit Kobe Paras registered 19 points, six assists and four rebounds while reigning MVP Bright Akhuetie had a double- double of 16 markers and 12 boards for the Diliman- based team.
Sophomore guard Juan
Gomez De Liaño finished with 11 points, 11 boards and six assists while swingman
Ricci Rivero contributed eight markers in the win. UP dictated the pace early, 26- 13, but lost momentum as NU fought back to tie the game at 56- all on Dave Ildefonso’s triple at the onset of the payoff period. Manzo’s two treys plus another three- pointer from Paras gave the Maroons a 77- 70 buffer with 3: 02 left.
The Bulldogs, however, threatened anew at 75- 77 on JV Gallego’s layup with 56.1 ticks remaining. Manzo then sank two free throws but
Shaun Ildefonso nullified it with two of his own, 77- 79. The seasoned UP guard sank a second freebie, 80- 77, before Shaun muffed a potential game- tying three- point shot as time expired.
Sophomore guard Dave had a game- high 24 points, six rebounds and six assists while Gallego had 20 markers and five boards for also- ran NU, which further dropped the standings with a 2- 10 slate.
Wendell Comboy, Ken Tuffin and L- Jay Gonzales tallied 11 points apiece on top of a combined 22 boards for FEU — a fitting follow up to its 81- 60 rout of La Salle last Saturday.
Congolese center Lenda Douanga’s 10 points and 22 rebounds along with Jerrick Ahanmisi and Aaron Fermin’s 10 markers each went down the drain as Adamson failed to return to the Final Four with a 4- 8.