THE UP Fighting Maroons overcame a 20-point deficit and outlasted the Growling Tigresses in overtime, 88-80, to strip UST of its twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball tournament semifinals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
The Tigresses used a 22-4 second-quarter run highlighted by three Tacky Tacatac triples to gain a 20-point advantage, 45-25. But the Fighting Maroons turned the tables around with a 21-0 run to stun UST.
A 21-9 third quarter allowed the Fighting Maroons to mount a five-point cushion heading into the payoff period.
With the game tied at 72-all with 4.4 seconds remaining, Kent Pastrana had a chance to win it for the Tigresses at the buzzer but missed her stepback three, forcing overtime.
Tantoy Ferrer and Rhea Sanchez traded triples early in the extra period to keep the game at a close 75-all deadlock.
However, the hot-shooting Louna Ozar scored four straight points after a Ceejay Maglupay unsportsmanlike foul to ignite UP’s momentum with over three minutes remaining, 79-75.
UP widened its lead after a game-sealing 9-5 run to keep the Fighting Maroons’ finals bid alive.
This is the second time where UP outplayed UST in overtime. The first one came after the Fighting Maroons toppled the Tigresses in the first round, 73-69.
UST shot a poor 31.8 percent from the field (28 out of 88), while UP posted a 44.6 percent field-goal percentage (33 out of 74).
Ozar paced the Fighting Maroons with 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting from the field.
Favour Onoh had 14 markers and a UAAP-record 30 rebounds.
Pastrana’s career-high of 29 points was spoiled.
The do-or-die match is set for Saturday, Nov. 25, 9 a.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Jose Gabriel V. Ignacio
