University of Santo Tomas and National University clinched the last two seats in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s 3×3 Basketball Semifinals on Sunday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay’s Activity Center.
At the end of the preliminary phase, the Growling Tigers, the Bulldogs, and the Adamson Soaring Falcons were all level with identical 4-3 records.
However, Adamson had the lowest points on average of 16.5 compared to UST and NU, which had 18.5 and 18.0 respectively.
Another black eye on Adamson’s hopes was a 21-7 loss at the hands of defending champions De La Salle University Green Archers earlier in the day.
La Salle swept the phase 7-0 to earn the top seed.
The Green Archers will face NU in the KO semifinals at 3:40 p.m. while UE (5-2) takes on UST at 4:00 PM.
“Para sa akin, gusto naming lahat. Yung kaming lima, gusto namin makuha yung back-to-back championship and binibigay talaga namin yung best namin every game. Every game is an opportunity,” said Jonnel Policarpio about his team that earned the top seed with a 7-0 record.
In the other crucial men’s game, UST outlasted NU 18-16. With the game tied at 15-all, Angelo Crisostomo’s jump shot and Nic Cabañero’s two-pointer erected an 18-15 cushion for the Growling Tigers.
However, Jake Figueroa made things interesting with a basket of his own to bring the Bulldogs within just two points with 38 ticks left on the clock.
However, misses from Jolo Manansala and Steve Nash Enriquez allowed the Growling Tigers to escape with the win.
(C) Patrick Pampilon/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
In the women’s division, the Lady Bulldogs secured top seed after escaping the Growling Tigresses, 18-16.
Though tied with 6-1 slates, NU gained pole position due to the win-over-the-other rule.
Boni Solis led the Lady Bulldogs with nine points and two rebounds.
She converted the winning deucet to lead NU to victory with the contest delicately poised at 16-all.
“Sinabi namin mula umpisa hanggang dulo na magiging composed lang kami. Kung ano yung ginawa namin sa ensayo, yun lang. Magtitiwala kami sa isa’t isa and alam namin na kaya namin hanggang dulo,” said NU’s Tin Cayabyab, who contributed six points and five rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs.
NU will take on fourth-seed DLSU in the semis at 3:00 PM while UST faces Adamson in the other bracket.
The Lady Archers earned their ticket to the knockout phase after eliminating the UP Fighting Maroons, 17-16.
Lee Sario, Bettina Binaohan, and Ann Mendoza combined baskets to give the Lady Archers a commanding 15-10 cushion.
However, Acrissa Maw and Kaye Pesquera brought the Fighting Maroons within 16-14.
Mendoza then converted a free throw to make it 17-14 for La Salle. Although Maw’s two-pointed brought UP within a point, the Lady Archers’ defense held firm to close out the match.
Over at the boys’ side, FEU-Diliman extended its streak to 7-0 as National University-Nazareth School forfeited the contest due to injuries.
UST finished in the second seed with a 6-1 record followed by Adamson’s 5-2. DLSZ rounded up the Final Four with a 3-4 record.
The girls’ division will see UST (7-0) and NUNS (3-1) square off in the gold medal match at 5:40 PM.
