MANILA – De La Salle University showed championship poise when it mattered most, unleashing a decisive fourth-quarter stand to stun the University of the Philippines, 74-70, and seize a pivotal 1-0 lead in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball finals on Wednesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Green Archers, who trailed for most of the first three quarters, flipped the script behind a fierce defensive stretch and clutch scoring anchored by Manuel Luis Pablo, who sparked the late-game turnaround with seven fourth-quarter points, six rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.
“Knowing that this is gonna be something that is an emotionally-packed game, we’re just fortunate and blessed that we were able to sustain the onslaught of Harold Alarcon, he really took over. We just didn’t stop when UP was making those big runs,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
Pablo spearheaded the surge that pushed La Salle ahead, 70-68, before Michael Phillips split his charities. UP’s Harold Alarcon, who erupted for a career-high 34 points, drilled a jumper to cut it to 71-70.
But Jacob Cortez delivered the dagger — a cold-blooded three-pointer with 30 seconds left — to restore a four-point cushion the Fighting Maroons could not overcome.
Cortez finished with a team-high 21 points along with four rebounds and two assists, while Andrei Dungo added 15 markers.
“I just like to give credit to Kean (Baclaan) and kay Doy (Dungo). Doy stayed ready… Kean did a good job playing off the bench for me. I’m just so proud of them,” Cortez said.
Aside from Alarcon’s explosive 34, UP got 13 points from Francis Nnoruka but struggled to keep pace in the final minute.
La Salle can clinch its first UAAP title since 2016 in Game 2 on Sunday, still at MOA Arena./PN
