November 22, 2025 | 7:59pm
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle came back from 16 points down to score a crucial victory over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 87-82, in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball clash Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Archers thus snapped UP’s five-game winning streak while also winning their first game in four contests.
Mike Phillips stood tall with a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Vhoris Marasigan had 17 markers. Earl Abadam and Jacob Cortez added 14 points apiece.
UP waxed hot to start the game, going up by 16, 22-6, in the first quarter.
But the Archers slowly clawed out of the hole and made it just a 3-point deficit, 41-44, at the half.
This then turned into a nip-and-tuck ballgame in the second half, with neither side gaining sufficient ground.
UP led by three, 74-71, with 4:15 remaining after a pair of free throws by Francis Nnoruka.
But a massive 9-0 run, capped by a triple by Marasigan, gave La Salle the much-needed 80-74 advantage with 1:48 to go.
Rey Remogat and Gerry Abadiano tried to pull the Maroons back into it, but timely shots by Abadam and Marasigan kept La Salle in front.
With the Maroons trailing by just four, 81-85, they forced a turnover on the returning Mason Amos. But Reyland Torres’ clean attempt from deep missed, setting the Green Archers’ dagger free throws by Abadam.
Doy Dungo chipped in eight markers for La Salle. Amos, who missed significant time due to a knee injury, had three points, three rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes and 18 seconds off the bench.
Remogat powered UP with 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Nnoruka tallied 14 points while Abadiano and Gani Stevens contributed 12 apiece.
La Salle thus tightened its grip on the fourth seed with a 7-6 win-loss record, just ahead of Far Eastern University and Adamson (both 6-7).
The Maroons, already assured of a twice-to-beat advantage as the second seed, sits at 10-4 at the end of their elimination round.