Arellano Chiefs spoil UP Fighting Maroons’ quarterfinals bid

Chiefs spoil Maroons’ quarterfinals bid

by rick olivares

Arellano University exited the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup with a 73-68 victory over the University of the Philippines on Monday.

It was their fourth straight victory for an even 4-4 won-lost record after a poor start to the tournament. Their consolation was complicating the life of UP, which now needs to defeat National University tomorrow to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Fighting Maroons started out like a house on fire winning their first three matches—but they have since gone 1-3 in their last four matches.

The Chiefs looked like they were going to win comfortably as they repeatedly held off one UP rally after another. Although they led by nine, 62-53, entering the final period, the Chiefs committed a spate of turnovers while the Maroons chalked up big points from Javi Lopez De Liaño and Ibrahim Quattara.

With Arellano University leading, 72-65, with 46 seconds left, De Liaño hit a triple off a time-out to cut the lead to four.

Arellano University center Lervin Flores immediately turned the ball over, giving UP another shot at whittling away the lead, but Jarrell Lim missed a lay-up and Quattara lost the ball out of bounds. Arellano University’s Brylle Meca hit a free throw to close out scoring.

Kent Salado led Arellano University in scoring with 17 points, while Lervin Flores and Kraniel Villoria each added 16 points. Jarrell Lim topped the point production for UP with 16 points, while Quattara chipped in 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Despite the win, Arellano University became the first finalist from the previous season to miss the quarterfinals.

In other matches, Far Eastern University uncorked a 13-1 wind-up in the last three-and-a-half minutes to put down tough and resilient San Sebastian College, 84-80.

Down 80-71 after a drive by Jerrick Fabian, the Stags looked to wrap up the game and the Group B lead. FEU answered by drilling back-to-back three-pointers—one by Richard Escoto and one by Arvin Tolentino—to cut the deficit to 80-77 with 2:27 to play.

Both sides missed their next two three-point shots before the FEU swingman reentered the fray and greatly atoned for his two earlier turnovers that allowed San Sebastian to garner their earlier lead. Ramirez scored FEU’s last seven points on an assortment of drives and putbacks to give the Morayta based squad their seventh win in eight matches.

“Coach [first assistant Eric Gonzales who substituted for Olsen Racela, who is on Barangay Ginebra duty] brought me out for a breather and when he brought me back, I just repaid his faith in me and did what I had to do,” said the Toronto-born Ramirez, who is in the first of his two playing years for the Tamaraws.

San Sebastian led FEU for much of the game, but the Tamaraws always struck back behind their three-point shooting. In the first half, point guard Axel Iñigo hit three consecutive triples to keep his team within striking distance, 41-40, San Sebastian at the half. In the second half of play, Arvin Tolentino fired away from downtown.

FEU hit a tournament-high 15 triples, while San Sebastian dropped 11 for a combined 26 three-pointers.

Ramirez led FEU with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Iñigo and Escoto added 16 and 11 points, respectively.

It was a sorry loss for Edgar Macaraya’s Stags, who practically led throughout much of the match. “We committed some crucial mistakes and FEU made their shots,” Macaraya lamented. “It’s a learning experience for us.”

Ryan Costelo led San Sebastian’s attack with 17 points including four triples.  Four other Stags finished in double digits.

Despite the loss, San Sebastian at 6-2 will also enter the quarterfinals as the third seed.