The University of the East Red Warriors turned it up in the second half to upend the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, 91-75, to notch their second win of the 2016 FilOil Flying V Premier Cup, Wednesday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Pirates took advantage of the tentativeness on defense of the Red Warriors to build leads in the first half. The in-and-out combination of Mer Ayaay and Joseph Gabayni paced the Pirates with nine and six markers respectively as Lyceum shook off UE’s runs in the first half to take a 34-29 lead at the half.
“They know that I was disappointed with the way they played in the first half,” UE head coach Derrick Pumaren said about the disappointing 31% shooting of his team in the first half. “Walang fire in the first half. They were just giving the other team a chance to outscore them.”
During the third period, however, the Sampaloc-based squad stepped on the pedals on defense. The Warriors slowly clawed their way into the game and tied the game with 36 seconds left in the period off a Clark Derige trey. Recruit Alvin Pasasol claimed the lead for UE afterwards and his squad never looked back.
It was a virtual show of force in the fourth quarter as the Red Warriors pulled away. UE posted a huge 83-69 lead with 3:14 left in the game. The Warriors fended off the Pirates and closed out the game on an 8-6 tally behind the efforts of Bonbon Batiller and Renz Palma.
“The second half was an all-out effort especially on defense,” Pumaren added. “I had to play a smaller team, the second unit, to match LPU. Sa defense namin, we were able to cover all areas. We were trying to challenge every shot they are throwing.” The Pirates ended up committing a total of 31 turnovers in the game, 19 coming from the second half.
Pasaol finished with 17 points for the Warriors off 6/9 shooting while Nick Abanto added 13. Edson Batiller had nine markers and eight assists.
Joseph Gabayni paced the Pirates with a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Mer Ayaay added 14 markers while three other Pirates scored eight points each.
The UE Red Warriors (B, 2-1) will have a week-off before taking on the San Beda Red Lions on Thursday, May 19. The Lyceum Pirates (B, 1-2) will just have a day to regroup before facing the Adamson Soaring Falcons (B, 0-2) on Friday, May 13 at 3:15pm.
The Scores:
UE (91) – Pasaol 17, Abanto 13, Batiller 9, Palma 9, Derige 9, Manalang 8, Varilla P 6, De Leon 6, Armenion 4, Penuela 4, Charcos 2, Acuno 2, Bartolome 2, Poblete 0, Larupay 0, Olayon 0, Gagate 0, Sta. Ana 0
LPU (75) – Gabayni 20, Ayaay 14, Zamora 8, Baltazar 8, Malabanan 8, Alban 7, Soliman 6, Bulawan 2, Caduyac 1, Allanes 1, Marata 0, Magbuhos 0, Serafica 0
Quarterscores: 18-19, 29-34, 60-56, 91-75.
