UE nips NU on Sumang's killer triple

By Anthony Divinagracia Posted Jul 6th 2013

Losing its first game after a sterling pre-season was a baggage too heavy for Roi Sumang to carry.

On Saturday, Sumang dumped that “excess baggage” – and with it National University (NU) – as he rifled a killer triple off a four-point swish with 3.7 seconds left to give University of the East (UE) its first win, 71-67, in the 76th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.  

Hounded by the bigger Bobby Ray Parks, the 5'8 Sumang fearlessly asked for a clear out before stroking the cold-blooded triple from way out to break a 67-all deuce and push the Warriors back on top for good.

"Sawa na akong matalo e, kaya sabi ko kay coach (Boysie Zamar) ibigay sa akin yung last possession," said a teary-eyed Sumang who finished with 19 points and six rebounds. “Sobrang na-challenge ako kay Parks. Mabilis siya gumalaw tapos malaki pa.”

Sumang hammered the final nail in NU's coffin by sinking the bonus freethrow off that gutsy heave against Parks to settle the final count after three deadlocks and 10 lead changes.

“We had an excess baggage when we won the Fil-Oil. They (Warriors) thought we were already a champion team and that we can win by going one-one-one. But today, Roi Sumang just brought in the right baggage: his heart,” UE coach Boysie Zamar said of his spitfire court general, minutes after rebounding from their opening-day loss to Far Eastern University.

“I told him (Sumang) not to make a fluke and make it real. I think we're in the road to redemption.”

Rookie import Charles Mammie backstopped Sumang with 15 markers and 20 rebounds, highlighted by a new league record 13 offensive boards to erase the previous mark (12 offensive rebounds) set by former University of Santo Tomas (UST) center Jervy Cruz on July 5, 2008.

Former NCAA juniors MVP Gino Jumao-as also made his presence felt for the Warriors, chipping in 11 points.

UE engaged NU in a see-saw battle majority of the contest. But the Warriors slowly pulled away early in the fourth, taking a 57-52 edge on Adi Santos’ putback.

NU would later retake the upperhand twice inside the five-minute mark before Sumang hit a jumper and a triple to put the Warriors up anew, 67-63, with 2:44 remaining.

But Parks drove the lane while import Emmanuel Mbe and Gelo Alolino split their charities to force the game’s last tie at 67-all, with 1:12 left.

Mbe carved a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds while Parks wound up with just 11 markers in 37 minutes of play.

The scores:

UE 71 – Sumang 19, Mammie 15, Jumao-as 11, Olivares 9, Santos 6, Javier 4, Noble 3, Sumido 2, Casajeros 2, Guion 0, Galanza 0, Flores 0.

NU 67 – Mbe 18, Parks 11, Khobuntin 8, Javillonar 8, Alejandro 8, Alolino 7, Rosario 4, Villamor 3, Rono 0, Neypes 0, De Guzman 0,

Quarter scores: 12-18, 32-31, 55-52, 71-67.