De La Salle University’s Jacob Cortez (#11) and Mike Phillips (#25) against National University in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final 4. Photo from UAAP Media.
MANILA (UPDATED) — De La Salle University came in full force to stay alive in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Final 4, welcoming back Kean Baclaan from his MCL injury.
The Green Archers' hopes of making a return trip to the Finals stayed alive as they dominated National University, 87-77, in their Wednesday afternoon clash at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Mike Phillips had 11 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks, and a steal, Jacob Cortez was stellar anew with 13 points, EJ Gollena and Vhoris Marasigan respectively scored 11 and 10, while Kean Baclaan finished with six points and two assists in his return.
La Salle and National U will face off for one last time this season on Saturday, 3:30 p.m., still at the Big Dome, with the victor facing University of the Philippines in the Best-of-3 Finals.
"We're extremely grateful and blessed to be here," said Green Archers coach Topex Robinson, as they erased the twice-to-beat edge of the Bulldogs.
"We just tried to prolong the series," added Robinson, who also drew nine points each from JC Macalalag, and eight from Mason Amos which included two crucial three-pointers down the stretch.
As National U was attempting to remain alive in the contest, cutting their deficit from 17 to eventually eight with under seven minutes left, Amos drained a trey at the 6:12 mark for a 74-63 lead.
La Salle then followed this up with a 7-to-2 spurt — one that was capped by another Amos triple at the 4:22 mark — and this proved to be all the Archers needed to stay alive in the Final 4.
Meanwhile, Jake Figueroa finished with a game-high 20 points with 10 rebounds and four assists, but detrimental to their cause was his eight turnovers, more than half of the Bulldogs' total 15 errors.
Helping Figueroa was Omar John who finished with 12 markers, while Nash Enriquez and Jolo Manansala each scored eight.
The Scores:
La Salle 87 – Cortez 13, Phillips 12, Gollena 11, Marasigan 10, Pablo 9, Macalalag 9, Amos 8, Abadam 6, Baclaan 6, Dungo 3, Nwankwo 0.
NU 77 – Figueroa 20, John 12, Enriquez 8, Manansala 8, Jumamoy 7, Francisco 6, Palacielo 6, Garcia 4, Santiago 2, Padrones 2, Parks 2, Dela Cruz 0, Tulabut 0.
Quarterscores: 28-17, 48-46, 67-54, 87-77.
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