Sumang's super shot gives UE stunning win over NU

What Roi Sumang lacks in height, he makes up for it with his heart.

Validating the trust given by coach Boycie Zamar, Roi Sumang completed a game-clinching four-point play in the crunch that powered University of the East to a morale-boosting 71-67 stunner over National University Saturday in the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball wars at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

With the back-and-forth game hanging in the balance, the 5-foot-8 Sumang asked Zamar to put the matters into his own hands, taking a 25-foot triple over the outstretched arms of Bulldogs star Ray Parks plus a foul that ealed the deal with 3.7 ticks left.

Thanks to that clutch exploit of the proud Tondo native, UE bounced back from a stinging 78-89 reality check served by Far Eastern University last Saturday while dropping into a tie with NU, La Salle and host Adamson.

Sumang went on to finish with 19 points, nine coming in the fourth while Sierra Leone import Charles Mammie threw his full weight around his NU defenders, coming through with 20 rebounds, 13 of them offensively, on top of 15 markers, three assists and as many steals.

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Emmanuel Mbe led the Bulldogs with 18 points and 11 rebounds but reigning two-time league MVP Ray Parks struggled against the Warriors’ stingy defense, settling for just 11 markers on a horrendous 3-of-16 shooting in 37 minutes of play.
 
The Main Man: Already fed up with the team’s misfortunes, Sumang wouldn’t let this one slip away.
Urging Zamar to give him the most crucial play, the 5-foot-Sumang wisely milked the clock, used the screen set by Mammie then rifled in the booming triple plus a foul off the 6-foot-4 Parks.

Sumang even got a big high five from former UE star Paul Lee in the sidelines then also received a warm embrace from Zamar.
 
Honorable Mention: Pitted against fellow African Sean Mbe, Charles Mammie showed what he’s truly capable of.

Aggressively crashing the glass offensively, the 6-foot-7 Sierra Leone native held the fort for UE in the paint, corralling 13 of his game-high 20 rebounds.

Despite not scoring in the fourth, Mammie clogged the lane as the Bulldogs failed to get easy baskets especially in the crunch.
 
Game Turning Point: In a game that featured eight lead changes and two deadlocks in the second half, Zamar pulled an ace up on his sleeve in Sumang.

Showing he has what it takes, the 5-foot8 Sumang rose above Parks and, despite getting a slight nudge, coolly sank the game’s biggest triple then virtually closed out NU’s hopes by sinking the pressure-packed free throw with 3.7 ticks left.
 
They Said It:
UE coach Boycie Zamar: “After our game against FEU, we were humbled, humiliated and devastated because we brought an excess baggage when we won in the Filoil (pre-season) tournament.

"Of course, when you travel, you travel light. And that’s a big lesson for us. Roi Sumang brought the right baggage and that was his biggest heart. Sabi niya (Sumang), ‘Coach bigay mo sa akin.’ That was the biggest heart. Ang sabi ko lang sa kanya, ‘Don’t make a fluke this time or chamba. Just make it real.’”
 
Roi Sumang: “Basta hiningi ko na lang kay coach ‘yung last possession. Last time, talagang nanggigil kaming lahat sa panalo. Sabi ko naman sa inyo, ‘Ayaw ko na talagang matalo. ’ Sawang-sawa na ako. Ngayon talaga papakita namin. Sana manalo pa ulit kami.”
 
The scores:
 
UE (71) – Sumang 19, Mammie 15, Jumao-as 11, Olivares 6, 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.
Quarterscores: 12-18, 32-31, 55-52, 71-67.