Maroons send Red Warriors in limbo

MANILA, Philippines — Final Four-bound University of the Philippines made it a harder route for the skidding University of the East with a 77-67 win in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Maroons, who sealed the second seed midway through the second round, finished their campaign at 11-3 just behind reigning champion La Salle (12-2) as the Warriors wrapped it up at 6-8.

It’s the fifth straight loss for UE, which is just clinging at fourth spot and has to wait for the result of the final game on Saturday between Adamson (5-8) and also-ran Ateneo (4-9) to determine its fate.

The Warriors would need a defeat by the Falcons for an outright semifinal ticket while a win by the latter would pave the way for a knockout playoff due to a tie with 6-8 records.

Harold Alarcon served as the biggest thorn in UE’s bid by erupting for a career-high 33 points, including 16 in the fourth, with five triples.

Quentin Millora-Brown added 16 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks for the Maroons, who will face No. 3 seed Santo Tomas in the semis.

Jack Cruz-Dumont (14) and Rainer Maga (11) led the Warriors as Precious Momowei had 11 points and 12 rebounds in his return from a one-game suspension.

In juniors play, top-ranked University of the East zeroed in on an elimination-round sweep while Far Eastern U-Diliman clinched the second Final Four ticket with convincing victories against separate foes.

Neil Garcia fired 16 points as the playoff-bound Junior Warriors pummeled their University of the Philippines-Integrated School foes, 95-65, for a 12-0 slate and a possible outright finals ticket with pending matches against FEU and Adamson.