18 September 2019
By Maxine Louise Lagman
MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras once again drove University of the Philippines to a close shave, defeating National University, 80-79 on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.
Paras finished with 25 points on 10-of-22 shooting, on top of six rebounds and two assists as UP survived another tough match, improving to a 3-1 win-loss record.
The Fighting Maroons were five points down in the first quarter, but Javi Gomez de Liaño led the pack with big triples to end the half on an eight-point advantage, 44-36.
They stretched the lead to 10, 69-59, to start the fourth period off a bucket by JD Tungcab. But, NU was not just about to give up.
Dave Ildefonso boosted the Bulldogs with his own buckets, and his triple in the last four minutes of the match inched them closer within three, 71-74.
Paras and big man Bright Akhuetie combined for back-to-back baskets to keep UP afloat, 78-71. Enzo Joson answered with a layup followed by Ildefonso’s split at the line as NU kept close, 78-74.
The two teams banked on knocking down each of their freebies, until Ildefonso’s triple in the inched them within one, 80-79, 11.6 seconds left.
NU went for Ildefonso again, but he was forced to pass the ball to John Lloyd Clemente after being heavily guarded. Clemente went in for a jumper, but it fell short as Akhuetie got the rebound until time expired.
“We’ve got three close games already, and I think we are smart enough, we are wise enough. We have to learn how to close it out, because the fact of that is, I know we can,” he stressed. “I know we can.”
Akhuetie added 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Javi Gomez de Liaño had 17 markers in the win.
On the other hand, Dave Ildefonso continued to lead NU as he finished with 25 markers, while Issa Gaye had 13 points and 13 rebounds as they dropped to a 0-4 slate.
Despite another one-point loss in the tournament, Perasol admired the Bulldogs and noted how the record does not reflect the quality of their game.
“NU is a lot, lot better than their 0-4 slate,” he said.
The Scores:
UP 80 — Paras 25, Akhuetie 19, Ja. Gomez de Liano 17, Tungcab 6, Manzo 4, Rivero 4, Longa 3, Murrell 2, Ju. Gomez de Liano 0, Gozum 0, Jaboneta 0, Prado 0, Spencer 0.
NU 79 — D. Ildefonso 25, Gaye 13, S. Ildefonso 13, Gallego 9, Joson 8, Minerva 7, Clemente 2, Mosqueda 2, Diputado 0, Galinato 0, Malonzo 0, Oczon 0, Tibayan 0, Yu 0.
Quarters: 18-23, 44-36, 67-59, 80-79.
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