Behind Clark Derige’s hot shooting, the University of the East Red Warriors were able to pick up their second win in the 2017 Filoil Flying V Premier Cup, taking an 80-67 win over the woeful University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.
The win raised UE’s record to 2-1 in the stacked Group B.
“Nag-struggle kami nung first half so kailangan namin bumawi sa depensa,” said Olayon, who went 4-for-8 from distance. “Kaya siguro nakabalik kami sa opensa.”
“Clark is a stretch four so he will have to draw forwards out and with that UST team — they got a bigger team, had a tought time closing out on clark,” added UE head coach Derrick Pumaren.
The incoming fifth-year student-athlete finished the game with 16 points and four rebounds. Big man Mark Olayon filled up the statsheet with 13 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
Early in the fourth quarter, UE was just up by two points, 56-54, after a Zachary Huang three-pointer. However, an 11-3 rally by the Red Warriors broke the game wide-open, capped by a booming Derige triple.
“For the most part of the game, I wasn’t really happy with the way we’re playing,” the elder Pumaren expressed. “We’re not doing the things that we’re supposed to do and we’re doing what we’re not supposed to be doing. We’re playing selfishly and they were taking UST lightly.”
“In the end, we were impressive. We buckled down on defense and we were making outside shots and making stops in the end,” Pumaren declared.
Alvin Pasaol added 15 points.
Steve Akomo, bounced back from his horrible debut, scoring 14 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and swatting four shots. Transferee Carlo Escalambre chipped in 10 markers for the now 0-2 UST.
UE will next face the Lyceum Pirates on Friday, May 12, at 11:15am. UST, on the other hand, take on the De La Salle University Green Archers on Sunday, May 14, at 5:00pm.
The Scores:
UE (80) – Derige 16, Pasaol 15, Olayon 13, Maloles 7, Abanto 6, Manalang 5, Green 5, Bartolome 4, Varilla 4, Conner 3, Cullar 2, Gagate 0, Acuno 0, Magbuhos 0, Armenion 0.
UST (67) – Akomo 14, Escalambre 10, Sta. Ana 8, De Guzman 7, Faundo 6, Lee 6, Lorenzana 4, Huang 3, Caunan 3, Garcia 2, Macasaet 2, Afoakwah 2, Garrido 0, Soriano 0.
Quarterscores: 13-15, 36-34, 56-49, 80-67.
