UP survives Benilde scare to advance to FilOil Preseason semifinals
The Fighting Maroons survived a wild 7-0 closing run from the Blazers led by the tandem of Tony Ynot and Allen Liwag to advance to the semifinals.
Gerry Abadiano led the way for UP with 24 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal while big man Gani Stevens and veteran Harold Alarcon chipped in 12 and 11 markers each to help UP keep its three-peat bid alive.
Abadiano was shining all throughout the game, sending the Fighting Maroons to an 82-73 lead after a jumper late in the fourth quarter. But the Blazers, who ended up as second seed in the NCAA bracket, staged a fightback that threatened the title defense of UP.
Ynot instigated the rally with a huge three-pointer before Liwag sank a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to four, 82-78, with 1:13 left in the game.
The two connived in the succeeding play with Liwag securing the board after a missed basket from Abadiano and Ynot dishing the pass to him that would further trim the gap to just two at 82-80.
Benilde had two chances to either tie the game or win it, but transferee Raffy Celis missed a layup and muffed an open three-pointer as the Fighting Maroons cruised to the two-point victory that would set them up with a semifinals clash against either La Salle or Arellano University.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
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