University of the East continued its surge in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament, coming from 10 down in the fourth to defeat Ateneo de Manila University, 69-62, Wednesday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
After losing their first two games, the Red Warriors have now won four straight including big wins against the De La Salle University Green Archers and the National University Bulldogs for a 4-2 record at solo third.
This was the UE’s first win against the Ateneo in nine years or since it beat the latter 74-69 back on November 14, 2015 during the second round of Season 78, ending a 14-game skid in that span.
“Chinallenge ko lang ‘yung mga players ko last practice kasi again, nasira na naman ‘yung aming rotation kasi one of our players got injured again. It’s Ethan Galang suffering right now from a knee problem.,” said UE head coach Jack Santiago.
“Na-challenge lang sakin ‘yung mga bata kasi most players coming off the bench, they need to step up and fill the spot of Ethan Galang. I’m so happy with the boys. They responded very well,” he continued.
Down 37-47 early in the fourth, Wello Lingolingo, Rainer Maga, Precious Momowei, and Devin Fikes connived for a massive 25-7 blast to make it a 62-54 Red Warriors lead with 1:44 remaining.
That run was capped by 11 straight points by UE as Maga drilled back-to-back triples followed by Fikes’s own three before Momowei went for a layup.
Nigerian center Momowei played a no-relief game, delivering 18 points, 15 rebounds, three steals, one steal, and one block although he also committed seven turnovers.
Lingolingo added 13 points built on three conversions from deep while Maga made eight points with six coming in the game-deciding run.
UE will shoot for five in a row on Sunday against Adamson University at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Joshua Lazaro had 14 points and seven rebounds as Ateneo sank to 1-5 for a three-way logjam at the bottom with NU and Far Eastern University.
Shawn Tuano also chipped in 14 points while Jared Bahay got 12 points and six assists for the Blue Eagles.
Ateneo looks to end the first round with a win on Saturday when it meets NU, also at MOA Arena.
The Scores:
UE 69 – Momowei 18, Lingolingo 13, Abate 9, Maga 8, J. Cruz-Dumont 8, Fikes 7, Mulingtapang 4, Wilson 2, H. Cruz-Dumont 0.
ATENEO 62 – Tuano 14, Bahay 12, Lazaro 14, Bongo 7, Balogun 6, Porter 6, Espinosa 2, Koon 1, Quitevis 0, Espina 0, Gamber 0.
Quarterscores: 16-15, 30-26, 37-45, 69-62.
