CALATAGAN, Batangas — De La Salle University broke away from the four-team logjam for the top spot, due to its superior quotient, heading into the UAAP Season 84 3×3 men’s Final Four, Friday at CaSoBe Resort here.
The Green Archers finished at 4-2, alongside University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, and National University, but had the most points scored in the elimination round at 107.
Needing a bucket after Fighting Maroon Harold Alarcon tied the match with back-to-back conversions from deep, Ralph Cu launched DLSU to the top with a two-pointer for the win with 1:42 to spare.
“Gusto ko lang talagang mag Final Four,” said Cu after his game-winner. “Ready lang kaming mga nandito. Alam naman natin na hindi fair usually ang chances doon sa 5-on-5 so syempre mas makakalaro talaga ‘yung iba pero ready lang kami lagi if ever.”
Before the big win, the Green Archers fell to the Growling Tigers via Sherwin Concepcion’s two-pointer, 20-21, with 2:08 left.
UST came away with the second seed for having reached 21 points twice while UP only had one 21-point match.
The Growling Tigers first blasted Far Eastern University, 21-12, before the comeback win against DLSU.
The Fighting Maroons eked out a 9-8 hard-earned victory over rival Ateneo de Manila University before falling to the Green Archers in their final game of the eliminations.
The Bulldogs started the day at 2-2 but clinched two important wins against Adamson University, 14-13, on Germy Mahinay’s game-winning lay-in with six ticks to go, and the Tamaraws, 20-12.
Adamson then clipped the Blue Eagles, 14-13, to finish in fifth place. Defending champion Ateneo fell to sixth.
FEU went winless in six games to finish last.
The Scores:
Game 1
UST 21 – Cabañero 11, Concepcion 7, Santos 2, Mantua 1.
FEU 12 – Gravera 7, Sleat 4, Sandagon 1.
Time: Cabañero 2 (7:14)
Game 2
NU 14 – Ramos 7, Crisostomo 4, Manansala 2, Mahinay 1.
AdU 13 – Maata 7, Calisay 4, Yerro 1, Fuentebella 1.
Game 3
UP 9 – Abadiano 4, Alarcon 4, Madrigal 1, Ramos 0.
Ateneo 8 – Chiu 3, Koon 2, Fornilos 2, Fetalvero 1.
Game 4
UST 21 – Concepcion 10, Cabañero 9, Santos 1, Mantua 1.
DLSU 20 – Cu 9, Galman 8, Lim 2, Phillips 1.
Time: Concepcion 2 (7:52)
Game 5
NU 20 – Manansala 9, Ramos 4, Crisostomo 4, Mahinay 2.
FEU 14 – Sleat 7, Sandagon 4, Gravera 3.
Game 6
DLSU 21 – Cu 10, Galman 7, Phillips 4, Lim 0.
UP 19 – Alarcon 13, Abadiano 4, Ramos 2, Madrigal 0.
Time: Cu 2 (8:18)
Game 7
AdU 14 – Calisay 6, Yerro 3, Maata 3, Fuentebella 2.
Ateneo 13 – Fetalvero 6, Koon 3, Chiu 3, Fornilos 1.
