MANILA -- The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors went through another thriller via a 77-69 overtime win over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons during Thursday’s 72nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) at the Araneta Coliseum.

For a while, UP appeared headed to another upset when rookie Alvin Padilla split his charities to give UP a 65-62 lead in the final 9.4 seconds of regulation.

But UE’s Val Acuna buried a buzzer-beating triple from the left corner to send the game into overtime.

Elmer Espiritu then took over in the extra period while Rudy Lingganay sealed the win for the Red Warriors with a buzzer beating three-pointer.

Espiritu and Lingganay offset Paul Lee’s disqualification to fouls at regulation as the duo combined for nine points in overtime.

“It just fell on our laps. That shot by Val (Acuna) was not by design. It carried us overtime,” said UE coach Lawrence Chongson.

It was a fitting personal gift by Acuna to himself, who will be celebrating his 23rd birthday on Saturday.

Lingganay led UE with a career-high 16 points on top of six rebounds and two assists.

Espiritu, Lee and Pari Llagas were also in double figures for the Warriors, who won back-to-back for the first time in the season.

It was the second straight overtime game played by UE. The Warriors beat Adamson, 95-91, in double overtime last Sunday.

Woody Co’s career-high 23-point performance went for naught as UP tumbled into a tie with National University Bulldogs and the Adamson Falcons at the cellar with 1-5 slates. By Alder T. Almo

The Scores:

UE 77 – Lingganay 16, Espiritu 15, Lee 13, Llagas 10, Acuna 7, Bandaying 2, Reyes 4, Zamar 3, Duran 2, Alabanza 2, Tagarda 0, Noble 0, Ayala 0.

UP 69 – Co 23, Reyes 14, Padilla 10, Lopez 9, Reyes 4, Gomez 4, Juruena 3, Sison 2, Maniego 0, Hipolito 0, De Asis 0, Braganza 0.

Quarters: 18-18, 34-29, 55-51, 65-65 reg., 77-69 OT.

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