Proving he’s definitely a big-time player, 6-foot-5 Javier drilled in his second straight game-winner, this time a baseline jumper with 0.4 seconds left as the Red Warriors pulled the rug from under the mighty Ateneo Blue Eagles 79-77 Thursday in the UAAP Season 75 men’s basketball action at the MOA Arena.
Four days after draining the game-clinching corner trey in their 79-76 win over University of the Philippines last Sunday, Javier got a timely drop-pass from Roi Sumang, who attracted three Blue Eagle defenders, and coolly swished through the game-winning jumper to complete the season’s biggest upset.
With no more timeouts left, Ateneo guard Juami Tiongson heaved the leather from the backcourt and went way off the mark, sending the UE faithful–inside the venue and practically all the way to Recto–in wild jubilation.
More than improving their record to 3-8, the also-ran Red Warriors also snapped the eight-game winning streak of the Blue Eagles, the four-time defending champions who slipped to 9-2.
Ateneo, which went into the game bidding to earn its 14th consecutive Final Four appearance, will have to wait for three more days to accomplish its goal against Adamson on Sunday.
Former San Beda Red Cub Gene Belleza waxed hot all game long with a career-best 28 points, 10 coming in the payoff period, on top of five boards but it was Javier, who tallied 15 markers along with Sumang, who enabled the Red Warriors to grind through anew.
“Actually (our defense) is just an adjustment to their zone and defensive alignment wherever the ball is,” noted Boycie Zamar, who has truly turned the Red Warriors into a dangerous unit since taking the reins from close friend and former teammate Jerry Codiñera.
“The first win was sweet but this second win against Ateneo, the defending champion is much sweeter. Chris has taken the magical shot with the three points and again he takes another magical shot with the two-point (basket),” he added.
Seven-foot center Greg Slaughter towered over his rivals with a personal-best 24 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks while Kiefer Ravena added 15 markers and seven boards but those went for naught as the Blue Eagles got ambushed by the pumped-up Red Warriors.
“We have nothing to lose,” stressed the 6-foot Belleza. “We just need to play and execute what coach tells us. We’re happy but we’re not satisfied. Marami pa kasi kaming i-i-improve. Feeling namin nag-champion na kami. Nabura lahat ng talo namin. ”
After enjoying a 26-17 lead in the early goings, the Blue Eagles groped against the Red Warriors’ shifting 2-3 zone defense that made them worked doubly hard for every point.
Courtesy of Juami Tiongson’s jumper, the Blue Eagles took a 75-71 lead with 2:06 left and appeared headed for another victory, only to get caught flat-footed by the Red Warriors from there.
Belleza scored a lay-up then JR Sumido soared for a twinner that tied the count at 75-apeice. After the Blue Eagles muffed their attempts, the Red Warriors gamely stepped on the gas, with Sumang finding a running Adrian Santos who made the go-ahead basket with 20.8 ticks left.
Tiongson bungled his three-point attempt but Ravena scored on a putback, forging the game’s 12th and final deadlock at all-77 count with 7.2 ticks left, but the Red Warriors still had the last laugh.
It was UE’s first win over Ateneo since taking a 68-58 win last July 26, 2010.
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