5 days ago
Mike Phillips-led comeback not enough as La Salle bows to Korea University in WUBS finals
Mike Phillips spearheaded a huge fourth-quarter rally for De La Salle University, but Korea University held them off to eke out a 95-85 win in the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) finals on Monday in Japan.
The Green Archers erased a 27-point deficit by unleashing a strong second half outing before losing steam in the endgame as they were dethroned by the Koreans.
Korea University, meanwhile, completed its redemption bid against the same team that toppled them in last year's edition, where the Green Archers swept the entire tournament to reign supreme.
?La Salle once stared at a 27-point hole when Junhwi Seok sank a layup that sent the Koreans to a 55-28 lead in the second quarter, before they ended the first half enjoying a 57-35 cushion.
The Taft crew, though, managed to keep up with Korea University after Jacob Cortez opened the fourth period with a 5-0 personal run while Phillips converted back-to-back baskets to further trim the gap to just 14, 63-77, halfway through the frame.
Kean Baclaan then completed a three-point play before Phillips cleaned up his own miss, 72-88. The graduating big man split his free throws before unloading a two-handed slam off his own steal to make it a 79-91 deficit in the final 1:12.
But Korea University displayed resilience to close out the game even after a last-gasp triple from Cortez.
Phillips posted 30 points in the losing effort while backcourt gunners Baclaan and Cortez chipped in 18 and 13 markers apiece.
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News
