Calatagan, Batangas—De La Salle University broke away from the four-team logjam for the top spot, due to its superior quotient, heading into the UAAP Season 84 3×3 men’s Final Four, Friday at CaSoBe Resort here.
The Green Archers finished at 4-2, alongside the University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, and National University, but had the most points scored in the elimination round at 107.
Needing a bucket after Fighting Maroon Harold Alarcon tied the match with back-to-back conversions from deep, Ralph Cu launched DLSU to the top with a two-pointer for the win with 1:42 to spare.
“Gusto ko lang talagang mag-Final Four,” said Cu after his game-winner. “Ready lang kaming mga nandito. Alam naman natin na hindi fair usually ang chances doon sa 5-on-5 so siyempre mas makakalaro talaga ‘yung iba pero ready lang kami lagi if ever.”
Before the big win, the Green Archers fell to the Growling Tigers via Sherwin Concepcion’s two-pointer, 20-21, with 2:08 left.
UST came away with the second seed for having reached 21 points twice while UP only had one 21-point match.
The Growling Tigers first blasted Far Eastern University, 21-12, before the comeback win against DLSU.
The Fighting Maroons eked out a 9-8 hard-earned victory over rival Ateneo de Manila University before falling to the Green Archers in their final game of the eliminations.
The Bulldogs started the day at 2-2 but clinched two important wins against Adamson University, 14-13, on Germy Mahinay’s game-winning lay-in with six ticks to go, and the Tamaraws, 20-12.
Adamson then clipped the Blue Eagles, 14-13, to finish in fifth place. Defending champion Ateneo fell to sixth.
FEU went winless in six games to finish last.