By Kristel Satumbaga
No Part 2 of the Battle of Katipunan this season.
Presented a rare opportunity lived for by any player who has seen NBA star Steph Curry bury way-out three-pointers, University of Santo Tomas guard Renzo Subido stepped into the moment and drained a ‘prayer’ five feet clear of the rainbow arc to help lift the Tigers past the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons 68-65 last night and into the UAAP Season 82 Finals against Ateneo starting Saturday.
CLUTCH TIGER — UST’s Renzo Subido celebrates after sinking a go-ahead three-pointer late in the fourth period during a rubber match of UAAP Season 82 stepladder semis against UP at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, November 13, 2019. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
Subido’s trey with 23.6 seconds remaining erased a two-point UP lead and gave UST a 66-65 edge, bringing back to life yellow-clad UST supporters who had turned silent after the Maroons fought back to gain the upper hand late in the game at the Mall of Asia Arena.
UP called time and Kobe Paras got the ball at deep left corner but had it slip away. An airborne Javi Gomez de Liano found himself in possession of the broken play and banked in a five-footer but missed, the ball going out bounds off him.
Most Valuable Player Soulemane Chabi Yo then hit two charities to make it a three-point lead. UP got 4.9 seconds to send the stepladder knockout match into overtime but James Spencer knocked a 3-point attempt strong off the glass, triggering celebration from half of the 18,000-plus crowd.
UST completed a masterful four-game sweep of UP this season and denied an anticipated rematch of last year’s record-setting Ateneo-UP championship series.
Trailing for most the knockout game, UP first tasted the lead in the last 5:13 after a Juan Gomez de Liaño jumper gave the Maroons a 59-57 lead. UST, who led by as many as 12 in the first half, wasn’t to be denied though.
In what came down as the thriller’s most special moment, Subido took the ball at the left wing, far from the arc and with Bright Akhuetie on him but sagging back just inside 2-point territory. The UST playmaker took a few dribbles, glanced down as if to measure the space he needed and launched the biggest shot of his collegiate career.
Chabi Yo erupted for 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Tigers, while Subido and Mark Nonoy added 14 and 12 points.
Rhenz Abando contributed 11 points.
“That was a good game. We have to give credit to (UP) coach Bo (Perasol) for making adjustments,” said UST coach Aldin Ayo. “Breaks of the game.”
Akhuetie scored 16 points and 17 rebounds while Manzo and Ricci Rivero posted 12 points each for UP.
UST roared to a 7-0 start anchored on Renzo Subido and held UP to only six points for an 18-6 lead in the first quarter.
But the Tigers stumbled into six turnovers in the second period as the Maroons trimmed down their deficit down to 29-28 at the half.
Highlighting UP’s 45-percent field goal shooting in the second quarter was an 11-2 blast spearheaded by Bright Akhuetie to take a 22-11 deficit to 22-19, 5:53 to go.
Akhuetie scattered his first 10 points in the second period while hauling eight rebounds for the Maroons, while Soulemane Chabi Yo already had nine points and seven boards for the Tigers.
Scores:
UST 68 — Chabi Yo 22, Subido 14, Nonoy 12, Abando 11, Ando 3, Cansino 2, Concepcion 2, Paraiso 2, Bataller 0, Huang 0.
UP 65 — Akhuetie 16, Manzo 12, Rivero 12, Ju. Gomez de Liano 8, Paras 8, Spencer 3, Ja. Gomez de Liano 2, Prado 2, Webb 2, Murrell 0, Tungcab 0.
Quarters: 18-6, 29-28, 49-44, 68-65.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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