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| Current UAAP champion La Salle just beat a PBA team. Madayaw Sports Davao (file photo) |
MANILA--Reigning UAAP champion La Salle sent some shockwaves to the entire Philippine basketball community on Friday night after whipping PBA club Converge, 120-112, in the Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gym in Davao City.
The Green Archers, also the defending champions of the preseason tournament, pulled away within the final 1:02 of the game to score the huge upset against the FiberXers.
With his team just up by two, 113-111, CJ Austria turned a Mike Phillips block on Schonny Winston's potential game-tying layup into an inside basket of his own to up La Salle's lead to four, 115-111, with 1:02 to go.
Winston tried to posterize Kevin Quiambao in response, but despite fishing the foul, Winston could only make a split from the free throw line with 54.3 seconds left.
Earl Abadam then hit what would be the dagger three with 37.2 seconds left, and following another layup from Quiambao, the Archers finished the game on a 7-1 run.
The result forced a tie for second place between both teams at 1-1 with La Salle currently owning the tiebreaker.
Based on an unofficial calculation by Dugout Philippines, Converge must beat Rain Or Shine on Saturday night by five points or more for them to make the final on Sunday night.
The Phoenix Fuel Masters, though, could give the FiberXers some help if they beat the Green Archers also on Saturday night, which means a mere Converge win would now be enough regardless of the final margin.
The Elasto Painters placed one foot on the final earlier in the evening after pipping the Fuel Masters, 104-102.
ROS survived a late push from Phoenix to go 2-0 in the pocket tournament.
Up 102-94 with 2:02 to play, the Elasto Painters could not close out the Fuel Masters as Ken Tuffin hit a three to cut the lead down to five with 1:48 to go.
Aaron Fuller could only make a split from the free-throw line, and Larry Muyang scored on a reverse layup to trim the gap to just four, 103-99, with 34.6 seconds left.
Keith Datu had some late charity struggles too as he also split his free throws, and right after that, Jjay Alejandro scored a tough triple to cut the lead down to two with 11 seconds remaining.
Phoenix tried to put a pressure defense on Andrei Caracut, but he passed the ball to Gian Mamuyac before he would be called for a backcourt violation and Mamuyac successfully evaded those who tried to foul him to stop the clock as time ran out.
Mamuyac finished with 19 points on 7-of-13 field goals and two steals for ROS, which can seal a place in the final with a win against Converge on Saturday night.
However, the Elasto Painters could still be relegated to the battle for third also on Sunday night if the FiberXers beat them by five points or more and if the Green Archers defeat the Fuel Masters.
Despite falling to 0-2, Phoenix still has a shot at making the final if they beat La Salle by seven points or more and ROS beats Converge.
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