Started at the bottom, now they’re back up.
The University of the Philippines (UP) Men’s Basketball Team (MBT) did not let an early-season slide dictate the trajectory of its campaign, clawing its way back to the finals after ousting the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 82-81, in a nail-biting semis showdown on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
This season’s title defense marks the team’s fifth consecutive finals appearance, dating back to when it won its first championship after 36 years in Season 84.
The Fighting Maroons found themselves on a 0-11 hole in the opening frame, but Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano and Terrence Fortea — three members of the “Maroon 5” and the remaining players from UP’s Season 84 championship core — sparked a 21-0 counter run to give State U a 21-11 lead early in the second quarter.
UST trailed for most of the first half and forced a 54-all deadlock midway through the third quarter with a jumper from Season 88’s leading scorer Nic Cabañero, who averages 16.79 points per game.
But the play resulted in an injury scare when Cabañero landed on Nnoruka’s left knee, forcing the maroon center to be escorted off the court to recover.
Nnoruka came back on the hardcourt just in time for the crucial final stretch following his brief exit in the previous quarter.
At 79-all, UST’s co-captain Forthsky Padrigao sank a floater to give the Growling Tigers a two-point advantage, 79-81, with 1:38 left on the clock.
But Fortea played the late-game hero role for UP, hitting the go-ahead trifecta with 48.5 seconds remaining, putting the Fighting Maroons ahead by a point, 82-81.
The graduating Cabañero refused to let his last playing year go to waste, attempting two last-second jumpers, only to get blocked by Nnoruka and hit the back rim on consecutive plays. This ultimately handed State U the ticket to the finals stage.
Similar to their second-round elimination encounter with the Growling Tigers, the Fighting Maroons once again won by a single point.
Fortea said that while he was happy his crucial three-pointer was successful, it was the trust and collective effort of the entire team that truly secured the win.
“Actually, masaya pero trust pa rin talaga sa buong team eh. ‘Yon pa rin talaga ‘yong nagpanalo, hindi naman ‘yong three points ko. Bawat isa sa amin nagtrabaho talaga para makuha ‘yong panalo na ‘yon,” Fortea said, reflecting on his winning shot.
Alarcon and Nnoruka stood tall for the Diliman-based squad with 22 and 19 points, respectively. Maroon 5 veterans Fortea and Abadiano added eight points each, while Torres contributed five markers.
From the España side, team captain Cabañero finished with 24 points in his farewell game, followed by Gelo Crisostomo with 15.
State U will await its finals opponent from the do-or-die semifinal matchup between top-seeded National University Bulldogs and Season 87 finals foes De La Salle University Green Archers on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the same venue.
Game 1 of the best-of-three Men’s Basketball Finals will tip off Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
