Despite missing JD Cagulangan, University of the Philippines overcame a tough challenge from University of Santo Tomas with a dominant fourth quarter, winning 81-70.
It moves within one victory of sweeping the first round of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Fighting Maroons improved to 6-0, winning all their games by double digits.
Standing in their way of a first-round sweep is their Season 86 Finals tormentor, De La Salle University, in a highly-anticipated rematch on Sunday at 6:30 PM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Ang importante is ma-match namin ‘yung effort nila. Alam naman natin na ang La Salle, every time they step on the court – particularly si Kevin Quiambao and si Mike Phillips… If you fail to match ‘yung effort na binibigay nila on both ends, we’re gonna be on the latter part and we don’t want that,” said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
Christian Manaytay drained an up-and-under shot to open the final period for the Growling Tigers, trimming their deficit to just three points at 65-68 with 9:22 left.
However, that would be their only points for an extended stretch as the Fighting Maroons unleashed an 11-0 run over the next six minutes.
Contributions from Janjan Felicilda, Francis Lopez, and Harold Alarcon helped build a commanding 79-65 lead with just 3:22 remaining.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UST’s next basket came at the 2:37 mark when Nic Cabañero made two free throws, bringing the score to 67-79.
“Much better second half, definitely. After allowing 24 points in the first quarter alone and then limiting them to 28 in the second half, obviously mas maganda yung second half namin in terms of effort and adjustments,” Luanzon added.
“It’s really the players – they responded to all the things Coach Gold told them to do.”
Alarcon led the Fighting Maroons with 16 points on 50-percent shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Lopez contributed 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Terrence Fortea added 11 points, and Gerry Abadiano chipped in with 10 points in the victory.
Cagulangan, who was averaging 13.4 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds, did not play despite being in uniform as he was feeling under the weather.
The Fighting Maroons capitalized on UST’s 24 turnovers, scoring 31 points off those mistakes.
With this defeat, UST slipped to a 3-3 record, tied for fourth place with idle Adamson University.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Malian big man Mo Tounkara had a stellar performance for UST, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting and grabbing five rebounds. However, he injured his left foot early in the fourth quarter after stepping on Fortea’s foot.
He was able to return to the game, but UP was already well ahead.
Cabañero added 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting, while Forthsky Padrigao recorded 14 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, albeit with seven turnovers.
UST will aim to end the first round on a winning note when it faces Far Eastern University on Saturday at the MOA Arena.
The Scores:
UP 81 – Alarcon 16, Lopez 15, Fortea 11, Abadiano 10, Millora-Brown 8, Felicilda 8, Ududo 6, Torculas 5, Torres 2, Belmonte 0, Bayla 0, Briones 0, Alter 0.
UST 70 – Tounkara 21, Cabañero 15, Padrigao 14, Paranada 5, Llemit 4, Manaytay 4, Danting 3, Crisostomo 2, Mahmood 2, Acido 0, Estacio 0, Laure 0, Robinson 0, Calum 0, Pangilinan 0.
Quarterscores: 16-23, 40-42, 68-63, 81-70
