UAAP: Easter Thursday

Easter Thursday
Warriors ground out-of-sync Eagles

By Josiah Israel Albelda

26 August 2010

Given up for dead after a dismal start, University of the East breathed life into its sagging campaign, slaying another giant in Ateneo de Manila University, 62 - 60, at the Araneta Coliseum Thursday.


Sharpshooting guard James Martinez connected on four three-pointers in the fourth quarter - including a dagger with under two minutes left - to send the Red Warriors to their second straight victory in the 73rd UAAP men's basketball tournament.


The Recto-based squad thus improved to four wins in 11 matches, only a week after stunning second-running Adamson University last Saturday.


Likewise, the victory kept UE alive in its bid to snatch the last Final Four spot from idle De La Salle University.


"I can compare this game to Easter Sunday," Coach Lawrence Chongson told reporters. "This is like a resurrection for us."


"We are playing like there's no tomorrow."


The Red Warriors kept the game close all throughout before hitting the baskets when they mattered most to send the Blue Eagles crashing back to earth following a demolition of their rivals last Sunday.


Martinez, Adrian Santos and Paul Lee conspired as UE dropped a 7 - 0 blast to start the final period and tie the game at 45 apiece.


Both squads traded baskets before the six-foot Martinez drained back-to-back treys to push the Red Warriors up, 56 - 50.


"Hinahanap talaga ako ng mga kakampi ko kaya naging open ako," the guard, coming back from an ACL injury that derailed him last season, said.


UE seemed to break away but the Blue Eagles came back, delivering their own 7 - 0 run capped by an Erik Salamat triple with a little over two minutes remaining.


Lee, who struggled for nine points on three-of-15 shooting, then sank two free throws before Martinez finished the Katipunan-based squad off with a desperation heave.


"Wala ng nangyayari nun, so tinira ko na," he added. "Buti pumasok."


Ateneo played without the vim and vigor it showed when it dismantled De La Salle, 74 - 57, last weekend and was held to an atrocious 27.7% shooting.


The Blue Eagles and Coach Norman Black complained a million times about what they saw as bum calls and were obviously out of focus the whole match.


On the other hand, Chongson viewed this game as their biggest of the season - and his boys were up to the task.


"Right now, we can still enter the Final Four," he shared. "We have to take care of what we can take of and God will do the rest."


Martinez finished with 22 points on six-of-10 three-point shooting while improving center Ezer Rosopa added 12 markers, eight boards and a career-high four blocked shots.


Meanwhile, Salamat led the Blue and White with 16 points while burly slotman Jumbo Escueta had his best game with 10 points, all in the first half.


The scores:


UE (62) - Martinez 22, Rosopa 12, Lee 9, Acibar 7, Reyes 6, Santos 2, Casajeros 2, Tagarda 2, Enguio 0, Zamar 0, Sumido 0, Duran 0


Ateneo (60) - Salamat 16, Escueta 10, Monfort 9, Chua 9, Buenafe 5, Long 4, Dela Cruz 3, Tiongson 2, Golla 2, Salva 0, Gonzaga 0, Austria 0


Quarterscores: 10 - 8; 27 - 27; 38 - 45; 62 - 60