MANILA – The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors grabbed a ticket to the Final Four ticket as they fought off the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 81-72, in the 72nd UAAP men’s basketball at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.

The Red Warriors rode on the heroics of Val Acuna and Paul Lee to evade an upset by the tenacious Maroons.

Playing in his last year, Acuna knocked in three consecutive triples in a span of one minute as UE quickly erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth period.

Martin Reyes’ teardrop shot gave UP its biggest lead, 65-55, early in the fourth period.

UE countered with an 11-1 run courtesy of Acuna’s barrage to tie the game 66-all. Lee then took over to finish off the Maroons.

Lee, the Rookie of the Year two seasons ago, came up with two sensational three-point plays that launched a 15-7 exchange in the final 5:19.

“Val (Acuna) bailed us out. And Paul (Lee) came up big in the end. I reminded the boys that we really needed this win. With twice-to-beat or not, I want us to enter the Final Four in our own hands and with the momentum,” said UE rookie coach Lawrence Chongson.

Lee wound up with a game-high 21 points and five assists while Acuna backstopped him with 17 markers on 4-of-9 shooting beyond the arc.

It was a UP show in the third period as the Maroons fired away 30 points to take the lead. The UP squad, however, failed to sustain the run when it mattered most.

The Warriors scored 31 in the second quarter to climb out from a nine-point deficit, 16-25, in the opening period. A 16-0 run enabled them to take a 32-25 lead midway in the second canto.

The win was the fourth in a row for the Warriors, who can still forge a playoff for the second spot if they sweep their next two games while hoping that Far Eastern University loses their last two assignments. At 8-4, UE currently trails FEU (10-2).

Chongson also added that the “playoffs has already started for us. We don’t have to wait for Sept. 20 to wake up. We need to win every game if we want to end our (title) drought.”

UE last won a championship when the likes of PBA greats Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera led the Jimmy Mariano-mentored Warriors in 1985.

Ironically, Codiñera is now an assistant coach for the Fighting Maroons, who dropped out of contention with a 3-9 slate.

The scores:

UE 81 – Lee 21, Acuna 17, Espiritu 16, Llagas 6, Bandaying 6, Tagarda 5, Zamar 2, Reyes 2, Flores 0, Ayala 0, Alabanza 0, Acibar 0.

UP 72 – Lopez 14, Mikee Reyes 12, Sison 11, Co 11, Martin Reyes 10, Padilla 9, Astorga 3, Maniego 2, Juruena 0, de Asis 0, Baraganza 0.

Quarters: 22-25, 42-31, 55-61, 81-72.