Mike Phillips came through on both ends in the clutch as De La Salle University fended off National Chengchi University, 89-84, to open its World University Basketball Series title defense on Saturday at the Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.
With La Salle holding an 85-80 lead and less than a minute remaining, the 6-foot-9 Filipino-American big man muscled his way inside for a crucial basket to give the Green Archers some breathing room.
NCCU, however, refused to back down.
Sung Hsinhao and Wu Zhikai delivered back-to-back baskets to trim the gap and keep their hopes alive.
Moments later, Hsu Techi stripped EJ Gollena and sprinted down the court for what seemed like an easy layup — until Phillips chased him down and emphatically blocked the shot.
Wu missed a three-pointer on the next possession, and Luis Pablo calmly sank free throws to ice the game.
With the win, the Green Archers advanced to the next round, where they will face the Japan University Select Team, who defeated Hong Kong University later in the day, 98-31.
Phillips finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks to lead La Salle.
Mason Amos backed him up with 14 points built on four triples, while Pablo added 11 points and four rebounds. Vhoris Marasigan chipped in 10 points, and Jacob Cortez tallied nine.
Tempers flared with 2:36 left when Boubacar Mboup got into a heated exchange with Kean Baclaan and Marasigan, resulting in technical fouls on Baclaan and Marasigan and Mboup’s ejection.
La Salle led by as many as 17 points, 44-27, before NCCU mounted a furious late rally. Wu paced NCCU with 21 points, while Sung added 20.
The Scores:
DLSU 89 – Phillips 15, Amos 14, Pablo 11, Marasigan 10, Cortez 9, Macalalag 8, Baclaan 8, Abadam 7, Gollena 6, Daep 2, Dungo 0.
NCCU 84 – Wu 21, Sung 20, Hsu 17, Mboup 9, Lin T. 6, Hsieh 5, Ndiaye 2, Lin E. 0, Wang 0, Fu 0, Pan 0.
Quarterscores: 29-17, 46-36, 69-58, 89-84.
