MANILA, Philippines – The most must-see rivalry in UAAP men’s basketball just got even hotter.
Not only are defending champion La Salle and title contender UP jockeying for Season 87 top seeding rights, they are now set for their first clash since their highly controversial first-round encounter, where Maroons guard Reyland Torres alleged Archers coach Topex Robinson spat on him mid-game.
Weeks after the issue died in a stalemate UAAP investigation, fans of both squads are somewhat still feeding off tinges of mutual resentment, which is expected to boil over anew on Sunday, November 10, at the Araneta Coliseum.
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SECOND QUARTER
- UP 43-40: Sean Alter scores inside, 10.5 seconds left
- UP 41-40: Kevin Quiambao highly contested three, 14-4 La Salle run
- UP 41-37: JD Cagulangan keeps going, scores two more
- UP 39-37: Kevin Quiambao pullup two
- UP 39-35: JD Cagulangan left open for the easy layup
- UP 37-35: Mike Phillips sinks a contested layup, misses the bonus
- UP 37-33: CJ Austria sinks a layup, plus the foul, airballs the bonus
- UP 37-31: Mike Phillips scores 2 from the line
- UP 37-29: Kevin Quiambao pullup three
- UP 37-26: JD Cagulangan fastbreak jumper
- UP 35-26: Jacob Bayla putback, 3:38 left
- UP 33-26: Harold Alarcon 2/2 from the line
- UP 31-26: JD Cagulangan turnaround mid-range jumper
- UP 29-26: Joshua David contested layup
- UP 29-24: Aldous Torculas banking floater
- UP 27-24: JD Cagulangan steals and scores, and-one, 5:47 left.
- LA SALLE 24-24: Jacob Bayla breakaway layup. Timeout La Salle with 5:59 left.
- LA SALLE 24-22: Jacob Bayla scores 2 free throws
- LA SALLE 24-20: Raven Gonzales sinks contested mid-ranger. Timeout UP with 6:37 left.
- LA SALLE 22-20: Raven Gonzales bank shot
- LA SALLE 20-20: Gani Stevens splits from the line
- LA SALLE 20-19: Mike Phillips bullies inside for two, plus the foul, misses free throw
- UP 19-18: Jacob Bayla quick response two
- LA SALLE 18-17: Mike Phillips hook shot
- UP 17-16: Vhoris Marasigan easy layup
- UP 17-14: Francis Lopez drills a quick three
- UP 14-14: JC Macalalag drains a mid-range jumper
FIRST QUARTER
- END OF FIRST QUARTER: Mike Phillips jams it home over Francis Lopez to beat the clock as UP keeps a 14-12 lead over La Salle
- UP 14-10: Francis Lopez finds a cutting Terrence Fortea for the short stab
- UP 12-10: Francis Lopez dunk off a Janjan Felicilda steal and assist, 1:15 left
- LA SALLE 10-10: Joshua David, Reyland Torres trade layups
- LA SALLE 8-8: Reyland Torres quick response layup
- LA SALLE 8-6: Lian Ramiro 2/2 FTs, 3:45 left
- LA SALLE 6-6: Gani Stevens putback layup
- LA SALLE 6-4: Henry Agunanne drills a long two
- LA SALLE 4-4: Aldous Torculas quick response two
- LA SALLE 4-2: Henry Agunanne two-handed jam
- LA SALLE 2-2: Kevin Quiambao, Aldous Torculas trade twos
- LA SALLE STARTERS: Joshua David, JC Macalalag, EJ Gollena, Kevin Quiambao, Henry Agunanne
- UP STARTERS: JD Cagulangan, Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Aldous Torculas, Dikachi Udodo
Preview
Although both teams already secured the twice-to-beat semifinal incentives, Sunday’s main event between the Archers and Maroons is a litmus test for both sides’ readiness for a serious title pursuit, as both are coming off rather lackluster stretches by their lofty standards.
UP, in particular, is fresh off a shocking 20-point decimation to once cellar-dweller NU, 67-47, while La Salle recently fended off a gutsy challenge to middling FEU and crawled to a 58-53 comeback win.
Save perhaps from Archers star scrapper Michael Phillips, none of the usual standouts from both teams have any serious momentum on their side, including reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao, former champion JD Cagulangan, high-flyer Francis Lopez, and one-and-done big man Quentin Millora-Brown.
Simply put, Sunday’s final game is a must-watch for fans, and a must-win for both teams.
Tip-off is around 6:30 pm. – Rappler.com