By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense Reyland Torres committed a crucial miscue as the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons bowed to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 76-75, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday night, December 11.
With the Fighting Maroons holding to a 73-66 lead and time down to 2:58 in the fourth quarter, Torres committed an unsportsmanlike foul that resulted in his ejection from the game.
The Green Archers used the incident to launch an 8-0 scoring blast on an inside basket from Michael Phillips, followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Kevin Quiambao to take a 74-73 lead with 1:30 left in the contest.
Quentin Millora-Brown regained the lead for the Fighting Maroons with an inside hit, but Phillips responded with his own layup to give the Green Archers a 76-75 advantage with exactly a minute remaining.
Torres, who ended the game with five points, two rebounds and one assist, could face possible suspension in Game 3 for being thrown out in the game, as per the league rules.
Quiambao, a two-time UAAP MVP, finished with 22 points, including four three-point conversions, to go with nine rebounds, two assists and a steal as the Green Archers leveled the best-of-three title series at 1-1.
Phillips finished with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, two steals and an assist for the Green Archers, which forced a do-or-die Game 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, December 15.
Cagulangan, Lopez and Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano top-scored for the Fighting Maroons with 16 markers apiece, while Millora-Brown contributed 11 markers and eight rebounds in the loss./ASC, WDJ
DLSU 76 — Quiambao 22, M. Phillips 18, Gollena 9, Macalalag 9, Gonzales 8, Austria 5, David 3, Agunnane 2, Marasigan 0, Ramiro 0, Rubico 0.
UP 75 — Abadiano 16, Lopez 16, Cagulangan 16, Millora-Brown 11, Alarcon 5, Torres 5, Torculas 2, Stevens 2, Ududo 2, Felicilda 0, Bayla 0, Fortea 0.
Quarterscores: 28-22, 39-36, 54-62, 76-75.