Basketball
UE ends season on high note, defeats UP
The University of the East Red Warriors ended its season on a winning note, defeating University of the Philippines, 68-54, in the penultimate day of the 74th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Playing his last collegiate game, Biboy Enguio tallied 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals while JM Noble scored all 12 of his points in the first half as UE finished the 2011 season with a 3-11 record.
The victory enabled the Recto-based cagers to avoid a last place finish in the eight-team league.
Adrian Santos had 12 points and five rebounds and first-year guard Roi Sumang turned in eight points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
“We started the season having difficulties and no one really believed that we can win with a team that we have, but one thing good about this team was that they fought hard,” said UE mentor Jerry Codinera.
UE had to overcome an 11-2 deficit as UP drew a fiery start from the graduating Miggy Maniego.
But the Warriors, led by Enguio, closed the first on a 16-7 run to tie things up before Noble unloaded nine second quarter points and a 37-26 halftime advantage.
The Maroons tried to catch up in the second but UE countered every minor run to secure the win.
Rookie Chris Javier contributed eight points and seven rebounds and scored a buzzer-beating layup off a Paul Zamar assist to end the third with a 55-45 lead.
Zamar, one of the graduating UE players along with Enguio and Lucas Tagarda, had four points, five rebounds and three assists.
Maniego had 14 points in 23 minutes for UP. Mark Juruena added 12 points and seven boards but the Maroons closed their campaign with a 2-12 slate.
It was the fourth time in the last five seasons that the Diliman-based cagers finished dead last.
The scores:
UE 68 – Enguio 18, Santos 12, Noble 12, Sumang 8, Javier 8, Zamar 4, Casajeros 2, Tagarda 2, Duran 2, Sumido 0, Flores 0.
UP 54 – Maniego 14, Juruena 12, Gomez 6, Montecastro 5, Silungan 5, Gamboa 5, Wierzba 3, Romero 2, Mbah 2, Wong 0, Manuel 0, Gingerich 0.
Quarters: 18-18; 37-26; 55-45; 68-54.
