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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider Coach Topex, Cortez defend Marasigan after missed attempt

Coach Topex, Cortez defend Marasigan after missed attempt

Published Dec 15, 2025 04:00 pm

At A Glance

  • "I mean, that shot could have brought that house down and as long as those shots are the shots that Vhoris was practicing, we're going to be okay with that," he added.
Vhoris Marasigan almost delivered the title-clinching triple for La Salle in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Finals. (UAAP Media)
Vhoris Marasigan almost delivered the title-clinching triple for La Salle in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Finals. (UAAP Media)
If there was an unforgettable shot in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 88 Finals, it was Vhoris Marasigan’s three-point attempt that nearly served as a title-clinching basket for De La Salle University.
The moment could have electrified the arena, which was packed with 22,412 fans.
With 23 seconds left in the fourth, reigning champion University of the Philippines clung to a 65-63 lead, behind Gerry Abadiano’s timely baskets, before it sealed the match after Francis Nnoruka split his free throw, 66-63, to set the stage for yet another do-or-die game in their Finals trilogy.
Questions swirled over why Jacob Cortez didn’t take the final shot, but La Salle coach Topex Robinson expressed his trust as he stood firmly behind Marasigan.
“Well, we have rule No. 1, and that’s use your best judgement. We're always going to stick to what we agreed upon as matured individuals here,” said Robinson.
“I mean, that shot could have brought that house down and as long as those shots are the shots that Vhoris was practicing, we're going to be okay with that,” he added.
Cortez also thought the same.
“I trust Vhoris, and that’s part of the game, it would have a different outcome right now if that shot went in, but it didn't, so we have to move on and bounce back come Game 3,” Cortez stressed.
The heroics of shifty guard Cortez for the Green Archers in the opener resulted in a tighter defense on him with UP’s Jacob Bayla serving as his primary defender.
“I know that Game 1 really affected the defense, especially to me, so I told my teammates to be aggressive… and encouraged them to take those shots and not be hesitant,” he added.
The State U’s first-ever win over La Salle this season forged a win-or-go-home duel this Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, a matchup that marked their third straight do-or-die battle, with both teams having secured a championship apiece.
There Cortez, Marasigan, and the Taft-based squad go for their 11th overall crown, while UP seeks to snare its back-to-back championship.
“It's something that every athlete or every young coach always dreams of, going into a Game 3 and just making sure that we're going to learn a lot from it,” said Robinson.

Related Tags

La Salle Green Archers Vhoris Marasigan Topex Robinson Jacob Cortez UAAP Season 88 UP Fighting Maroons
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