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(UPDATE) UAAP: Warriors clip Eagles, force winner-take-all

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/04/2009 6:22 PM

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MANILA - Elmer Espiritu and Pari Llagas are not ready to hang their University of the East (UE) Red Warriors jersey just yet.

The duo, who are in their last playing year, led the Warriors to a convincing 88-68 win over the defending champion, the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, in Game Two to force a winner-take-all Game Three in the 72nd UAAP men's basketball Finals on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Espiritu and Llagas combined for 41 of the Warriors' total points to avert what could have been their last game in their checkered collegiate career.

“I challenged them to play the game of their lives. I asked them, gusto niyo pa bang mag-practice bukas,” UE coach Lawrence Chongson told his players before the game.

And responded big they did as the Warriors built a commanding 10-point lead going into the payoff period after trailing by 3 at halftime.

Llagas and Espiritu turned their games a notch up, combining for 14 points in the fourth period, as they continued to steamroll on Ateneo’s lethargic defense.

”Well, we couldn’t defend them. We started to rely too much on our outside shooting,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black, who suffered his worst loss in the UAAP since taking over the coaching reins in 2005.

The Warriors sank 19 of their 30 shots in the second half for 50 big points. In contrast, the Eagles only made 28 points on just 11-for-32 shooting from the field, including 3-for-21 in the 3-point zone.

“I’ll watch the tape tonight to correct what we did wrong in the second half.  Obviously, we also gave up a lot of backdoor plays in the second half,” Black said.

The most glaring Ateneo’s defensive lapse in the second half came in the 3:59 mark of the payoff period.  A perfectly executed alley-oop jam by Elmer Espiritu off Paul Lee’s assist from the top of key gave the Warriors a 19-point spread that sealed the win.

It was the Warriors’ first Finals win since 1985. Incidentally, it was the year the Warriors bannered by Allan Caidic last won a championship at the expense of the Pido Jarencio-led UST Tigers.

“Nakakatakot. Nakakatindig balahibo. Lagi na lang may bago (record). Hopefully sa Thursday, matatapos na ang paghihirap ng school,” said Chongson when informed of the trivia.

Espiritu ended up with 22 points spiked by four triples while Llagas added 19 markers on top of six rebounds and five assists.

“Their big men particularly (Elmer) Espiritu and (Pari) Llagas shot well and that made the difference. Congratulations to them,” Black said.  “But we’ll show up on Thursday with the mindset that we’re ready to play and win.” - Alder T. Almo

The Scores:

UE 88 – Espiritu 22, Llagas 19, Lee 13, Acuna 12, Lingganay 7, Reyes 6, Zamar 5, Duran 4, Tagarda 0, Bandaying 0.

ADMU 68 – Al-Hussaini 18, Monfort 12, Reyes 11, Baclao 10, Austria 6, Salamat 4, Long 3, Chua 2, Buenafe 2, Sumalinog 0, Salva 0.

Quarters: 18-15, 38-40, 63-53, 88-68.

For more UAAP, log on to www.uaapsports.com.