De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas successfully defended their men’s and women’s crowns, respectively, at the expense of University of the East and National University in the UAAP Season 86 Collegiate 3×3 Tournament Sunday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
La Salle survived UE 17-16 in the men’s final to end the campaign undefeated while the UST narrowly edged past NU 21-18 to annex the championship in the women’s final.
In terms of reaching the big dance, La Salle needed Most Valuable Player awardee CJ Austria’s dramatic two-point basket to edge past National University 21-20 while UST overcame Adamson University 20-16 in its semifinal.
“Ginawa lang namin ‘to para kay Josh (David) na naglaro nung Day 1 pero hindi na nakalro ng Day 2, sa mga coaches namin, sa mga players na nag-support sa’min, ‘yung mga family namin, girlfriends, and friends,” said Austria.
“Hindi ko ma-explain ‘yung nararamdaman ko ngayon, pero blessed kami na binigay sa ‘min ni Lord ‘tong championship,” said MVP awardee Kent Pastrana, who replaced last season’s top 3×3 student-athlete Eka Soriano in the lineup in this year’s edition of the halfcourt tournament.
“Blessed kami at grateful na binigyan kami ng opportunity na makalaro sa UAAP 3×3 at makuha namin ‘tong championship.”
For the Green Archers, it took a heroic effort to overcome the Red Warriors, who led as much as 11-4 off a free throw from Wello Lingolingo.
(C) Yvan Martinez and
Patrick Pampilon/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Rookie of the Year awardee Jonnel Policarpio, Austria, and Earl Abadam all connived to convert that seven-point deficit into a 16-13 edge.
Jack Cruz-Dumont brought UE within 14-16, only for Abadam to answer back with a basket of his own while Ethan Galang made things interesting with a deuce that made it 16-17.
La Salle thought it had the gold in the bag but Policarpio and Abadam’s baskets were cancelled due to traveling. The Green Archers, though, held firm defensively to seal the win.
Policarpio and Austria led La Salle with eight points and 12 rebounds and five points and 10 rebounds respectively.
Also part of the Green Archers squad was David, who did not play from May 3 onwards due to an injury.
(C) Yvan Martinez and
Patrick Pampilon/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
On the other hand, Lingolingo led UE’s effort with seven points and seven rebounds.
“It’s very rewarding,” said La Salle coach Osmund Ng. “Sulit yung pagod at effort ng mga players. We had to perform to keep up with the championship nung December. CJ carried us all the way up to the final. Yung last minute, siya yung nag-co-control ng game eh.”
Similar to La Salle, UST needed to dig deep in crunch time to win the championship.
Graduating senior Tantoy Ferrer nailed a deuce and Pastrana scored a basket inside the paint to give the Growling Tigresses a 19-17 edge.
After Kaye Pingol trimmed the deficit to 18-19, Pastrana earned a foul and two free throws with 48.6 seconds left on the timer. Amid the pressure, the MVP sunk both shots to seal the championship for UST.
Pastrana and Ferrer led the Growling Tigresses with 11 and eight points respectively while they were joined by Tacky Tacatac and Rocel Dionisio.
On the other side, Pingol led NU’s charge with 10 points.
“Of course, masayang-masaya not only for UST but also for Tantoy,” said UST coach Haydee Ong. “This was her last ride for UST and this championship is for her. Siyempre, it’s a hard-won game. Pwede rin mapunta sa NU. Thank you kay Lord na binigay Niya ulit ito sa amin.”
Aside from executing successful title defenses, La Salle and UST made it two championships each this Season 86 as both schools also emerged victorious in the 5-on-5 tournaments last December 6, 2023.
Moreover, Steve Nash Enriquez scored the winning floater as NU annexed third place in the men’s division with a 21-14 victory over Nic Cabañero’s UST.
Likewise, La Salle defeated Adamson 18-16 in overtime to get the bronze medal in the women’s division. As the game was tied 16-all, Lee Sario and Ann Mendoza scored a basket each to seal the deal.
(C) Yvan Martinez and
Patrick Pampilon/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
FEU’s Maxene dela Torre was adjudged the women’s Rookie of the Year.
The Scores:
Men’s Final:
DLSU 17 — Policarpio 8, Austria 5, Abadam 3, Buensalida 1.
UE 16 — Lingolingo 7, Galang 5, Cruz-Dumont 4, Spandonis 0.
Women’s Final:
UST 21 — Pastrana 11, Ferrer 8, Tacatac 2, Dionisio 0.
NU 18 — Pingol 10, Solis 7, Cayabyab 1, Betanio 0.
Men’s Third Place Game:
NU 21 — Enriquez 10, Manansala 5, Gulapa 3, Figueroa 3.
UST 14 — Cabañero 6, Crisostomo 6, Moore 1, Velentin 1.
Women’s Third Place Game:
DLSU 18 — Mendoza 7, Sario 6, Binaohan 3, Bacierto 2.
Adamson 16 — Etang 5, Apag 4, Tana 4, Agojo 3.
Men’s Semifinal 1:
DLSU 21 — Austria 11, Policarpio 9, Abadam 1, Buensalida 0.
NU 20 — Figueroa 6, Manansala 5, Enriquez 5, Gulapa 4.
Men’s Semifinal 2
UE 21 — Lingolingo 10, Galang 8, Spandonis 2, Cruz Dumont 1
UST 7 — Cabañero 3, Crisosotomo 2, Moore 2, Valentin 0
Women’s Semifinal 1:
NU 20 — Pingol 6, Cayabyab 6, Solis 4, Betanio 4.
DLSU 11 — Mendoza 6, Sario 3, Bacierto 2, Binaohan 0.
Women’s Semifinal 2
UST 20 — Pastrana 10, Ferrer 9, Dionisio 1, Tacatac 0.
Adamson 16 — Etang 5, Tano 5, Agojo 3, Apag 3.
