By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons secured for them the second spot in the elimination round of Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines after defeating and eliminating in the race the De La Salle Green Archers, 71-68, in league action on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Key plays by Bright Akhuetie, Kobe Paras and Jun Manzo gave UP (9-4) the leverage it needed down the stretch to outlast the Archers (6-7), who with the loss saw their semifinal chances crushed.

Earlier in the day, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws (8-6) notched a Final Four spot after defeating the University of the East Red Warriors, 82-58.

UP got off to a fiery start led by Ricci Rivero who towed his team to a 7-0 advantage by the 7:30 mark of the opening quarter.

It would continue to build on it, stretching its lead to as much as 14 points, 17-3 with three minutes to go before settling for a 10-point cushion, 21-11, at the end of the first 10 minutes.

In the second quarter, the Maroons opened the proceedings with a 6-0 run to extend their to lead to 16 points, 27-11, with eight minutes to go in the frame.

But La Salle then exploded.

On the lead of Aljun Melecio, Jamie Malonzo and Justin Baltazar, the Archers went on a ferocious 21-0 run, to race to a 32-27 lead with a minute left in the quarter.

Reigning most valuable player Akhuetie helped steady the ship for the Maroons, racking up five straight points to level the count at 32-all with 30 seconds remaining.

Baltazar handed the lead back to La Salle, 34-32, with a bucket only to be answered by UP guard Jun Manzo with a triple as the second-quarter time expired to give the Maroons the upper hand, 35-34, at the half.

Shell-shocked by the La Salle rally in the second canto, UP came out on firmer footing to begin the third with Noah Webb and Paras on the firing end.

The Maroons went on a 7-0 run to build a 42-34 advantage with just two minutes passing.

La Salle tried to claw its way back but Akhuetie and the Maroons were steady in staving its opponents off, still taking control, 48-39, with four minutes to play.

Malonzo was undeterred and kept pulling the Archers, who came to within four points, 48-44, with 2:30 to go.

When the third-quarter smoke cleared, the Maroons were still on top, 55-45.

Sensing that the game was slipping from their hands, the Archers came out of the fourth quarter with more aggressiveness.

The Maroons though continued to hold sway, 60-55, with five minutes to go.

But La Salle kept fighting its way back, going on an 11-2 run in the next two minutes and a half to seize the lead, 66-62.

Manzo and Akhuetie conspired for four points for UP to level the count at 66-all entering the last two minutes.

Encho Serrano scored for the Archers to make it, 68-66, with 1:35 remaining.

UP sued for time after to set up a play.

Akhuetie tied the count for the Maroons, 68-all, with 1:25 to go.

La Salle had a chance to reclaim the advantage but turned the ball in the ensuing play.

UP made the Archers pay as Paras scored off a slam sunk with 54 ticks to go to make it, 70-68, for the Maroons.

The Archers had their chances to get back the lead but muffed them.

A split on the charity lane by Manzo with two seconds remaining gave UP a 71-68 advantage from which La Salle could not recover from.

Akhuetie led UP with 17 points and 10 rebounds with Manzo and Rivero adding 12 points apiece. Manzo also had eight assists. Paras finished with 10 points.

La Salle, meanwhile, was paced by Malonzo with 17 points, followed by Melecio with 12 and Baltazar 10.

UP plays the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles (13-0 )on Oct. 30 while La Salle wraps ups its campaign against the Adamson Soaring Falcons (4-9) also on the same date.

Meanwhile in the first game, FEU secured a semifinal spot with a win over also-ran UE (3-10).

Wendell Comboy led that barrage for the Tamaraws with 17 points on a 5-of-7 shooting from threes, while also hauling down four rebounds. Royce Alforque had 13 points while L-Jay Gonzales had a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards.

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