Maroons stand ground, repeat vs Bulldogs
Games on Saturday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
7:30 a.m. – UE vs DLSU (16U)
9:30 a.m. – UST vs ADU (16U)
11:30 a.m. – AdU vs UE (women)
1:30 p.m. – AdU vs UE (men)
4:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UST (men)
7 p.m. – DLSU vs UST (women)
MANILA, Philippines — Reigning champion University of the Philippines withstood National University’s late-game rally to score a repeat win, 78-74, and gain solo third place in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Fighting Maroons relinquished a 22-4 start but flaunted their championship pedigree and defensive claws when it mattered most to improve to 5-3 at the start of the crucial second round.
Harold Alarcon uncorked a season-high 24 points, including 11 in the payoff period, as UP quickly recovered from a 72-69 loss to rival La Salle last weekend that snapped its four-game winning run following a 0-2 start.
Alarcon drained UP’s last four points — all on freebies — after NU closed in on to within 70-74 in the last 15 seconds on Jake Figueroa’s own free throws. He drew ample coverage from Rey Remogat and Reyland Torres with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Gani Stevens chipped in seven markers while Terrence Fortea and Jacob Bayla added six each for the Fighting Maroons, now one game behind the University Santo Tomas Growling Tigers (5-2) for the coveted second seed and twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.
“Our defense was able to hold up until the end,” said deputy mentor Christian Luanzon. “Malaking bagay ‘yung strong start namin, which has been rare for us the whole year as well as our ability to sustain.”
UP entered the match as the lone team to have beaten NU in the first round, 66-59, behind a stellar finishing kick from 13 points down in the second half.
But the Fighting Maroons nearly had a taste of their own medicine, getting swallowed by NU’s fiery uprising from a lead as big as 18 before Alarcon came to the rescue.
The Diliman-based hoopers, on a 22-4 start, held a 41-29 at the turn with the Bulldogs knocking on their doors multiple times in the second half, first at 55-57, and the closest at 66-69, in the last two minutes.
Figueroa stamped an all-around brilliance again with 18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, a steal and two blocks, while Paul Francisco (13) and PJ Palacielo (11) had their numbers for NU, which still remained at No. 1 at 6-2.
Earlier, Jorick Bautista exploded for 20 points including back-to-back triples in the final minute as Far Eastern University dealt Ateneo its fourth straight loss, 75-68.
It’s the second straight win for FEU to climb to 3-5 for a fighting chance to the Final Four as the Blue Eagles’ free fall continued to 4-4 at fifth place after an unbeaten start. Adamson, at 3-4, sits between the two squads, in the race to the top.
Dom Escobar and Waki Espina led with 15 and 12 points, respectively, for Ateneo but to no avail despite the return of ace floor general Jared Bahay, who bled for three points, from a shoulder injury.
In women’s basketball, vengeful Santo Tomas (7-0) completed a first-round wipeout with a 75-61 win over University of the Philippines (2-5).
Brigette Santos fired 26 points to spearhead the Growling Tigresses’ first sweep since 2011, shoring up their redemption tour after losing to the throne to the National U Bulldogs in Season 87.
The scores:
First Game
FEU 75 – Bautista 20, Mongcopa 16, Pasaol 15, Konateh 15, Ona 4, Salangsang 3, Felipe 2, Owens 0, Montemayor 0, Macapagal 0, Jones 0.
Ateneo 68 – Escobar 15, Espina 12, Tuano 9, Lazo 8, Espinosa 6, Fjellvang 5, Ladi 4, Lazaro 4, Bahay 3, Bongo 2, Ong 0.
Quarterscores: 17-20, 37-37, 55-54, 75-68
Second Game
UP 78 – Alarcon 24, Remogat 11, Torres 10, Stevens 7, Fortea 6, Bayla 6, Nnoruka 5, Abadiano 4, Palanca 3, Belmonte 2, Alter 0, Yniguez 0.
NU 74 – Figueroa 18, Francisco 13, Palacielo 11, Parks 7, Manansala 6, John 5, Santiago 4, Garcia 4, Padrones 4, Enriquez 2, Dela Cruz 0, Reyes 0, Solomon 0.
Quarterscores: 22-6, 41-29, 56-50, 78-74
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