Cardiac finishes highlight UAAP games

RR GARCIA nailed a buzzer-beating layup following a mad scramble as Far Eastern University survived a 77-75 thriller over National University to grab a share of second in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at Mall of Asia Arena

League officials reviewed the final shot several times over before ruling that Garcia beat the buzzer by just a tenth of second.

“It was another heart-attack game,” said FEU coach Bert Flores. “But overall, we had good execution in the endgame and good ball movement.”

NU’s Ray Parks swiped the ball from Garcia with less than 10 seconds left, but the Bulldogs lost grip in a scramble that saw FEU’s Roger Pogoy getting hold of the ball and tossing it to Garcia in the other end.

It was a heart-stopping playdate as Chris Javier also drained a buzzer-beating triple to lift the University of the East to a pulsating 79-76 victory over the University of the Philippines in the first game.

“I’m no magician, I’m no superhero, but it’s a magical win for us,” said new UE coach Boycie Zamar, who picked up his first win in three games after replacing Jerry Codiñera.

Roi Sumang dished out the key assist to Javier, whose game-winner from the left corner turned out to be his first three-point attempt in his UAAP career.

“I was confident with my shot,” said Javier, the 6-foot-5 sophomore center who bailed out the Warriors after the Maroons rallied from a 59-70 deficit in the last nine minutes to tie the game at 76.

The Warriors improved to 2-8 while the Maroons fell to 1-9, but both teams are already out of semifinal contention.  /inquirer