Maroons survive Tamaraws in OT to preserve unbeaten slate

MANILA, Philippines – The UP Fighting Maroons avoided the upset axe from a winless FEU Tamaraws side, escaping with an 80-76 in overtime to remain unblemished in UAAP Season 86 hoops action Wednesday afternoon at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

FEU held a slim two-point lead, 73-71, with about a minute into the overtime period, but UP scored six unanswered points punctuated by a Malick Diouf deuce to grab a 77-73 lead with 1:42 remaining in the game. 

Jorick Bautista willed the Tamaraws to within one, 77-76, after a huge 3-pointer with 30.3 seconds remaining. 

On the other end, Royce Alforque hit the head of CJ Cansino with 13.2 seconds remaining, resulting in a pair of freebies. 

Cansino made the first one and missed the other, but FEU tapped the ball out. 

A layup by Janjan Felicilda ended the game and set the final score for UP. 

Felicilda had the best game of his collegiate career, scoring 17 points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out two assists. 

Cansino had 14 for UP, while Diouf was unstoppable inside, finishing with 11 points and 20 rebounds. 

Bautista had 26 points for the Tamaraws, making all of his six 3-pointers. 

LJay Gonzales had a near double-double with 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists. 

With the game tied at 65 following a picture-perfect floater by Gonzales with about 2:45 remaining in regulation, Felicilda hit a scoop shot over Mo Faty plus the foul. 

He completed the three-point play to give UP a 68-65 cushion with 1:48 remaining. 

Bautista’s quick-release from deep tied the game once again at 68 with 30.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. 

UP had a chance to lead the game, but Harold Alarcon’s pull-up missed.

FEU then secured the possession, and Gonzales passed the ball inside, but a kick out pass went straight to the backcourt. 

With 1.7 seconds remaining, Francis Lopez was able to receive the ball, spin away from his defender and shoot a fadeaway that went in, but Diouf was called for a basket interference as he tipped the ball in. 

UP led by eight, 17-9, early on in the game following a Janjan Felicilda finish in transition. 

But FEU fought back and held a six-point lead, 38-32, following a 3-pointer by LJay