MANILA, Philippines – The University of the East Warriors played tough defense down the stretch to pull off a 78-73 win over the Tigers of the Univesity of Santo Tomas in Saturday’s second game of the 71st University Athletics Association of the Philippines season at the Araneta Coliseum.

“We played good defense. Even though we were small my boys played aggressive and tough defense,” said UE coach Dindo Pumaren, who is trying to erase last year’s nightmarish finals campaign against the De La Salle Green Archers.

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HOLLYWOOD—His shirt drenched in sweat after another heavy workout with his prized ward, Freddie Roach minced no words in making the mission clear.

“I want a knockout,” the two-time Trainer of the Year said.
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I understand why almost everybody is picking the Lakers, but the talk is getting carried away. The mistake is to believe that the Finals won’t be competitive, and that the Celtics have no chance.

I understand that the Lakers have the MVP in Kobe Bryant — the best player on the court usually wins the Finals — and the wisest, most accomplished coach in Phil Jackson. The Lakers not only have been the highest-scoring team in the playoffs at 105.9 points a game, but they’ve also tightened their field-goal defense to yield 43.3 percent shooting in the postseason — just 1.2 percent behind the league-leading Celtics.

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With a spectacular fourth quarter, the Boston Celtics moved forth into the NBA Finals for the first time in 21 years.

Led by Paul Pierce, the Celtics rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final period for an 89-81 victory over the Detroit Pistons, closing out the Eastern Conference Finals in six games.

The Celtics are in The Finals for the first time since 1987, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Looking for their 17th title, they again will face the Lakers, who are in search of their 15th championship.
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The Lakers are headed back to The Finals for the first time in four years.

The defending champs didn’t have enough to hold on to a 17-point advantage as Kobe Bryant erupted for 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter to dethrone the Spurs, 100-92, on Thursday and send the Lakers to The Finals for the first time since 2004.

Pau Gasol helped Los Angeles improve to a perfect 8-0 at STAPLES Center, notching 12 points and a playoff career-high 19 rebounds in Game 5.
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Ray Allen re-affirmed his membership in the “Big Three.” Kendrick Perkins petitioned to make it the “Big Four.”

Allen scored 29 points and Perkins added 18 and 16 rebounds - all postseason highs - as the Boston Celtics held home court Wednesday with a tense 106-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the pivotal fifth game of the Eastern Conference Finals.
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The Lakers, who are a perfect 7-0 at home in these playoffs, are now just a home win away from a trip to the NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant scored a team-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead his Lakers past the Spurs, 93-91, on Tuesday night in San Antonio.
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To win on the road in the postseason, you usually need strong games from your role players. In their first road win of the playoffs, the Boston Celtics got just that.

Kevin Garnett had 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and plenty of help Saturday as the Celtics regained home-court advantage with a 94-80 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
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BOSTON(AP) Not even a week of rest could prepare the Detroit Pistons for the hottest home team in the NBA.

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and nine rebounds and Paul Pierce scored 22 points Tuesday night to lead Boston to an 88-79 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics’ 15th straight home win.

Kendrick Perkins had 10 rebounds and Rajon Rondo added 11 points and seven assists for Boston, which earned home court through the playoffs with a league-best 66-16 regular season record. The Celtics rode that advantage to seven-game series victories over Atlanta and Cleveland and held serve in the opener against Detroit.

Game 2 is in Boston on Thursday night.

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Cleveland 74, Boston 69

CLEVELAND, May 16 (AP) — The Boston Celtics are going home for another Game 7.

They handled the Atlanta Hawks.

LeBron James may not be as easy.

James scored 32 points - 19 in the second half - and the Cavaliers forced a decisive and fitting finale to this home-sweet-home playoff series with a 74-69 victory Friday night over the Celtics, who have gone from regular-season road kings to postseason road kill.

“It was either win or go home,” James said. “I’m not ready to go home.”

The Cavs packed for a weekend stay in Beantown - not a few weeks relaxing on Cape Cod. They’ve got at least one more game left, and in the NBA, it’s as big as they ever get.

Game 7. On Sunday. In Boston.
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