Varilla’s 5 threes power UE to 2-0 slate

Paul Varilla scored 19 points in leading the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors to a blowout victory over the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates, 77-64, early Friday evening at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

The game started off chippy with both teams playing physical defense. During the first 3:30 seconds of the game, the Red Warriors were only able to score from free throws to gain an early 6-3 lead over LPU. LPU center Guy Mbida cut the deficit to one, 10-9, after two lay-ups. With a minute remaining in the quarter, things got heated between both squads as Aldin Elmejrab and Bertrand Awana were fighting for position resulting to free throws for Elmejrab to give LPU a 14-12 lead. A quick lay-up by Dan Alberton on the other end tied the game at 14-all at the end of the quarter.

Paul Varilla caught fire at the early half of the second quarter, connecting with two three pointers to regain the lead. Back-to-back connections by Jebb Bulawan and Richond Sunga kept the game close. Varilla then knocked down another jumper to stop the Pirate rally. A Pirate rally ended the quarter capped by an and-one play by Joseph Gabayni, 10-2. Lyceum led 36-32 to conclude the quarter.

Both teams struggled again on offense to start the third canto. Fouls and missed free throws again plagued both teams when the two teams combined to score only a point in the first three minutes of the quarter. A nifty pass by Varilla to Awana four an and-one play at the 6:52 mark tied the game at 36-all. The dreaded UE press finally showed up in the lower end of the third quarter to hold the LPU pirates to just three points in the final two minutes of the quarter. On the other hand, the Red Warriors were able to score 12 points, six from free throws and three pointers by Edgar Charcos and Emil Palma to give UE a 54-44 lead.

The fourth quarter became a Paul Varilla showcase. As a team, the Red Warriors connected with five three pointers in the quarter, with three coming from Paul Varilla. The Pirates only scored four points in the first six minutes of the quarter. With three minutes remaining in the quarter, the UE lead swelled to 73-47. A late rally by LPU proved to be too late as the game ended with score of 77-64.

In the game, the Red Warriors were able to connect with nine three pointers on 21 attempts compared to LPU’s four three pointers. As a team, UE assisted on all but one of their field goals made.

Paul Varilla grabbed a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Rookie Philip Manalang had 11 markers and went on the free throw line 11 times.

The UE Red Warriors next play the MIT Cardinals on Wednesday, May 6 at 1:30pm while the LPU Pirates face the DLSU Green Archers on the same day at 5:00pm.

The Scores:
UE (77) – Varilla 19, Manalang 11, Javier 10, Alberto 10, Awana 9, Palma 8, Charcos 8, De Leon 2.

LPU (64) – Gabayni 10, Baltazar 10, Bulawan 9, Mbida 9, Alanes 5, Zamora 4, Marata 4, Taladua 3, Soliman 2, Nguidjol 2, Lacastosantos 2, Sunga 2, Caduyac 1, Elmejrab 1.