UP survives UE scare, seizes lead

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines survived a big scare from winless University of the East, hacking out a 91-81 comeback win to seize solo leadership in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball yesterday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Fighting Maroons turned it up in the middle quarters to buck an early 10-point deficit on their way to a third straight win and, for now, a solo view atop the summit with a 5-2 record at the end of the first round.

James Payosing, former NCAA Finals MVP from San Beda, collared 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead seven Fighting Maroons in double digits.

That scattered offense plus the stinging defense in the second half was the one thing that thrilled coach Goldwin Monteverde, not delving too much on an early deficit against a squad that has not won in almost three seasons.

“Naunahan kami ng UE. But in a way, that’s one test for the team, coming from behind and playing tough defense para makabalik sa game,” said Monteverde, the author behind UP’s emergence from a punching bag to now a UAAP powerhouse with five straight finals appearances.

“Along the way siyempre kailangan namin matuto to start strong. I guess as we go along sa season, we’ll learn to do those.”

A decade before Monteverde’s turn at Diliman, UP reeled to 27 consecutive losses from Season 75 to 77 (2012 to 2014) for then the second-longest skid in league history just behind Adamson’s 35 in 1999 to 2002.

With this gutsy win, the Fighting Maroons dragged the Red Warriors to a tie for that drought. Another loss by the UE to start the second round next week would complete the vindication.

But yesterday wasn’t a walk in the park.

On the heels of a 69-67 escape act from a 13-point deficit against Adamson, UP’s struggle continued with another slow start as it trailed by 33-43 in the second period.

However, UP turned to its championship experience to turn things around. Led by Payosing, the Diliman hoopers launched a 12-5 rally to strike within 45-48 at the turn. It was all UP from there.

Later, Santo Tomas clamped Ateneo to a season league-low clip of 26.7 percent for an 80-68 defensive clinic, ending Round 1 with back-to-back victories for 4-3. The Blue Eagles slid to 3-4.

In women’s basketball, Karylle Sierba fired a career-best 35 as titlist UST (5-0) zeroed in on a Round 1 sweep with a 90-67 demolition of Ateneo.