University of the East survived a late three-point barrage by Far Eastern University’s Jorick Bautista in overtime for an 87-86 escape act to keep its University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament Final Four hopes alive yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
A strong 15-5 start in the extension gave the Red Warriors enough separation to cushion the Tamaraws’ desperate fightback to move up to a share of the fifth spot with a 4-6 win-loss record, tied with defending champion Ateneo de Manila University.
Rey Remogat punched in a season-best 34 points from 10-of-19 field goal shooting including six triples while adding eight assists and six rebounds to help UE complete an elims sweep of FEU and string its second straight victory.
“We’re just happy that we’re still alive in the Final Four race. I guess our win last game and this game, would help us win our next games,” Remogat, who became the first UE player to score more than 30-plus points since Alvin Pasaol did it in 2018, said.
Abdul Sawat added 20 points while Fil-Canadian rookie Jack Cruz-Dumont starred in overtime with two crucial jumpers, a split on the foul line and an assist to finish with nine points.
UE built an 87-77 lead with 38.7 seconds left after two charities from Remogat but Bautista blasted three straight triples in between good defensive stops by FEU to close in, 87-86, with 1.5 seconds left.
But it came a little too late as the Tamaraws suffered back-to-back losses for a 3-7 card.
Bautista had 21 points, 12 in OT, LJ Gonzales posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds while Xyrus Torres got 12 points including a crucial triple in the last 48.2 seconds of regulation that tied the game at 72 and forced the extra five minutes.
In the women’s division, Maymay Canuto drilled the game-winning basket in defending champion National University’s 77-76 overtime win over University of Santo Tomas to secure the first Final Four seat.
The fourth year guard sank her lone but most important field goal of the match with 1.2 seconds left before the Lady Bulldogs forced the Tigresses to commit an inbound pass violation to claim their seventh straight win for a 9-1 slate.
Karl Pingol led NU with 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals while Princess Fabruada and Tin Cayabyab, who hit the buzzer-beating trey that forced the extension after the regulation ended 72-all, scored 11 points each.
UST went up, 76-73, courtesy of a Tantoy Ferrer basket with under two minutes left. Angel Surada swished two free throws with 1:22 to go to bring the Bulldogs closer before Canuto’s go-ahead basket.
The Tigresses fell to a 7-3 card despite the 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and two assists of Kent Pastrana and Tacky Tacatac’s 12 markers.
In the other match, University of the Philippines exacted revenge over first round tormentor Ateneo de Manila University, 71-48, for an 8-2 card.
Filipino-French rookie Louna Ozar who posted 17 points, four steals, two rebounds, and two assists while Favour Onoh added 13 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks while Kaye Pesquera chimed in 11 points, five rebounds, and five steals for the Fighting Maroons.
The Blue Eagles slid to 6-4 after Most Valuable Player frontrunner Kacey Dela Rosa was held to just nine points on a woeful 3-of-18 field goal shooting but still grabbed 16 rebounds in a lost cause.
