MANILA — With the University of the Philippines on the brink of another finals setback, Ilonggo guard Gerry Abadiano took over when it mattered most, drilling cold-blooded jumpers in the closing minutes to lift the Fighting Maroons past De La Salle University, 66-63, and extend the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Finals to a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The fifth-year guard from Iloilo scored six of his 17 points in the final period, repeatedly punishing La Salle’s defense with mid-range shots to erase memories of UP’s Game 1 loss and even the best-of-three title series at 1-1.
“Hindi ko naman in-expect ‘yung ganitong pangyayari. Siguro sa akin kung ano lang ‘yung binigay ng depensa kinukuha ko lang. Mas gutom lang kami manalo ngayon kasi talo kami nung Game 1,” said Abadiano.
“Syempre personally last year ko na, ayaw ko naman na sa last year ko hindi ko ibibigay ‘yung pinaka-best ko, pinaka-best namin,” added the former St. Robert’s International Academy Panda Rockets standout.
Abadiano snapped the final deadlock at 59-all with a jumper at the 2:31 mark, then buried another mid-range shot after De La Salle’s Jacob Cortez split his free throws to keep UP in front.
Green Archers forward Vhoris Marasigan responded with a layup to cut the deficit to 63-62, but Abadiano answered once more, calmly sinking his final jumper with 1:02 remaining to give the Fighting Maroons a 65-62 cushion.
Cortez trimmed the lead to two with a free throw following a technical foul on Sean Alter with 38.9 seconds left, but La Salle failed to convert in the closing sequence. Marasigan’s contested three-pointer in the final seconds missed the mark, allowing Francis Nnoruka to secure the rebound and split his free throws for the final margin.
Nnoruka delivered a strong inside presence for UP with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks, while Rey Remogat bounced back from a quiet Game 1 with 12 points. Gani Stevens chipped in eight points and nine rebounds.
For La Salle, Cortez paced the Archers with 16 points and four rebounds on 6-of-15 shooting, while Luis Pablo added 12 points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
Game 3 of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Finals is set for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum./PN
