Game Tuesday
(at the Arena in San Juan)
4 p.m. FEU vs NU
BATANG GILAS standout John Bismarck Lina is fast becoming the top rebounder of the season.
The 16-year-old, along with teammate, and top MVP candidate, CJ Cansino is now ahead of Ateneo rebound monster Kai Sotto with his average of 12.8 rebounds in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament (UAAP) junior basketball step-ladder semifinals at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The 6-3 Lina accomplished this after he and teammates Rhayjun Baquial and Kobe Palencia came up with big plays at endgame, allowing the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs to stop the third seeded and defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, 81-80.
“Ginawa ko iyung best ko para ma stop ko iyung binabantayan ko. At, mananalo kami dahil dun,” said Lina.
Lina came into the picture after Palencia, who had 11 points, then canned in one of two freebies with 8.3 ticks left, putting UST back on top, 81-80.
Lina then fouled Celzo when he was going for a drive in one of FEU’s last two attempts in the remaining time.
FEU still had a chance to win it. But Royce Alfoque’s three-point attempt came short of the basket.
Earlier, Baquial had 13 points, and made eight of it in the last period, including a drive past LJ Gonzales in the last 1:12, capping rally from 12 points down midway in the quarter.
The 5’11” Baquial’s basket tied the Tigers to move ahead, 80-79, and take control of the game in the remaining time.
After a split charity from Gonzales off Liam Manabat’s fift foul tied the contest, 80-all, Palencia drew a foul from FEU cager Daniel Celzo.
“Lahat sila, nagkusa sa game. Inencourage ko kasi na ito na ang time nila. Panahon na nila ito, at wag na nilang pakawalan,” said UST coach Christopher Cantonjos.
Top MVP candidate CJ Cansino showed the way again, making 18 points and 16 rebounds.
He also had eight points in the last canto, including a triple which touched off a 20-9 run in the last 6:25.
The Tiger Cubs went on to unload six triples during that scoring burst, with two of them coming from Manabat before he fouled out.
FEU, led by RJ Abarrientos with 24 points, enjoyed a 70-58 edge off his trey, 70-58.
UST will now clash with o National University in the second step-ladder semis match at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Bulldogs hold the twice-to-beat advantage after finishing No. 2 in the eliminations.
Ateneo earned an outright passage to the best-of-three title round after completing a 14-game elims sweep.
UST made it to the semifinals after nipping Adamson University in overtime last Wednesday.