By Jun Ray Navarres
Harold Alarcon of University of the Philippines singlehandedly pushed University of the East to the brink after a 77-67 win in their final elimination game of UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Center, Wednesday evening.
The young gun from Silay City erupted for a 33-point game performance to send the Fighting Maroons in the Final Four with a two-game win streak. He bolstered his tally with five rebounds and a steal.
“Siguro tsamba lang ‘yon. Parang ‘yong defense, ‘pag binibigay sakin na ganon na libre, kinukuha ko naman. Pag nakikita ko na nasshoot, tinatry ko pa rin at baka mashoot ulit. Buti nasshoot ulit mga tira ko,” said Alarcon who entered the fourth quarter with only 17 points but added 16 more to tie Kevin Quiambao for most points in a single game this season.
UP had troubles putting down the Caloocan-based squad in the first half, 41-37. Even after the third quarter, gritty UE stayed within striking distance, 55-52.
Dumont refused to give up for UE, to close in at 64-60 after an and-one play midway in the final period.
But the combined efforts of Alarcon, Francis Lopez, and JD Cagulangan helped the Fighting Maroons slip away to establish a comfortable 10-point cushion with less than five minutes in the game.
UE’s Rainer Maga provided a dim light at the end of the tunnel with a corner three, but Harold Alarcon was too hot to handle for the Red Warriors as he dealt the finishing blow with two successive jumpers from the same spot to ice the game.
Quentin Millora-Brown provided valuable minutes and finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds alongside two assists and two blocks.
The Fighting Maroons will be facing the third-seeded University of Santo Tomas in the semis with a crucial twice-to-beat advantage.
On the other hand, all UE needs to advance in the playoffs is for Ateneo to defeat Adamson on Saturday.
Images courtesy of UAAP Media Bureau
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