DE LA SALLE University flirted with a disaster before pulling off a great escape act from National University (NU), 89-87, to open its title retention bid on a good note on Sunday in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The reigning champions nearly wasted a 14-point lead in the payoff period and survived a free throw blunder down the stretch, turning to their staple defensive claws for a winning way in a new era without Finals MVP and long-time anchor Mike Phillips, who already graduated and jumped as a pro to Japan.
La Salle, which also frustrated then top-ranked NU last season by erasing a twice-to-win handicap en route to a title conquest, joined first-game winner Adamson University, which stunned host Far Eastern University (FEU) with a 56-53 comeback win, as early leaders in an highly-anticipated wide open race.
“As always, it’s gonna be a battle until the final buzzer. We’re able to pull away early but as expected, NU was able to get back. Credits to these guys for responding and contributing, especially on the defensive end. It’s not easy against NU (to open the season) and it will not be easy the rest of the way for us,” said coach Topex Robinson.
La Salle did, slamming the door on the last-ditch attempts of Paul Francisco and PJ Palacielo in the last 3.6 seconds to preserve the gritty win.
Rookie and Batang Gilas Pilipinas standout Joaquin Tovera made his presence felt right off the bat, finishing with 22 points laced by three steals to lead the way for the hoopers from Taft, who are out to net La Salle’s first back-to-back title feat since completing a four-peat in 2001.
Mr. Tovera filled the struggles of ace guard Jacob Cortez, who bled for nine points on three-of-10 clip including two missed freebies in the last 5.6 seconds, as Luis Pablo and Doy Dungo chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively, before suiting up for Gilas 3×3 team in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games next week.
Featured in Mr. Dungo’s exploits was a booming trey that restored order for the Green Archers, 88-84, in the last 50 seconds, to slightly douse the Bulldogs’ furious comeback from a deep hole in the last eight minutes.
Earl Abadam added nine while Mason Amos contributed six, including a split from the line in the last 3.6 seconds for an 89-87 gap that proved as the final count.
The Green Archers trailed only once in the match, 4-7, and seized command the rest of the way. But they still had to unload all their arrows until the final buzzer as what seemed a comfortable 78-64 lead to start the fourth quarter evaporated on the Bulldogs’ 23-10 rally.
Reinhard Jumamoy pushed NU to 87-88 with a transition layup in the last 5.6 seconds but NU could not secure a crucial rebound, leading to Mr. Amos’ offensive board and a split free throw.
Tebol Garcia and Kenshin Padrones produced 14 points each while Mo Diassana (12) and Mr. Palacielo (10) had their numbers in a foiled come-from-behind upset for the charges of coach Jeff Napa, who also dealt with the departure of their core led by MVP candidate Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez and Jolo Manansala that catapulted them to the No. 1 seed last season.
Earlier, Monty Montebon (18) and Mat Edding (10) connived as the Soaring Falcons staged a 19-7 closeout to spoil the Tamaraws’ debut as hosts.
“We’re just very thankful that we were able to get the win. It’s a tough battle every time we play FEU. They really made it hard for us also. At some point sa game, we were kinda loss and that’s because of what FEU did to us. It just so happened that our players were able to gather and group themselves together,” said Adamson coach Nash Racela in the battle between Final Four dark horses.
Reigning MVP Janrey Pasaol and rookie Cabs Cabonilas, former UAAP juniors MVP and Batang Gilas stalwart, had 11 points each for the Tamaraws. — John Bryan Ulanday
The Scores:
First Game
AdU 56 – Montebon 18, Edding 10, Erolon 8, Jonah 8, Anabo 5, Torres 5, Barcelona 2, Fransman 0, Tumaneng 0, Medina 0, Cruz-Dumont 0, Perez 0, Pacquiao 0.
FEU 53 – Pasaol 11, Cabonilas 11, Bautista 9, Gish 5, Konateh 5, Mongcopa 4, Felipe 4, Burgos 2, Montemayor 2, Daa 0, Nakai 0.
Quarterscores: 11-16, 28-36, 37-46, 56-53
Second Game
DLSU 89 – Tovera 22, Pablo 16, Dungo 12, J. Cortez 9, Abadam 9, Amos 6, Kulang 4, Macalalag 3, Kulang 2, M. Cortez 2, Gagate 2, Marasigan 2, Sardon 0.
NU 87 – Garcia 14, Padrones 14, Diassana 12, Palacielo 10, Jumamoy 9, Reyes 8, Francisco 8, Laconsay 5, Alfanta 5, Cartel 2, Figueroa 0, Solomon 0.
Quarterscores: 31-24, 52-45, 73-64, 89-87