DESPITE missing JD Cagulangan, University of the Philippines still shrugged off a tough challenge from University of Santo Tomas with a dominant fourth quarter, 81-70, to move a win away from sweeping the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament first round on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Fighting Maroons improved to 6-0, with all games winning via double digits.
Standing on their way from sweeping the first round is their Season 86 Finals tormentor De La Salle University in their rematch on Sunday, 6:30 p.m., at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Ang importante is ma-match namin ‘yung effort nila. Alam naman natin na ang La Salle everytime 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 payoff period for the Growling Tigers that slashed their deficit to just three with 9:22 left, 65-68.
But that ended up as their only points for a long time as the Fighting Maroons scored 11 straight points in the next six minutes courtesy of Janjan Felicilda, Francis Lopez, and Harold Alarcon for a 79-65 lead with just 3:22 to go.
UST’s next basket came at the 2:37 mark when Nic Cabañero made two free throws, 67-79.
“Much better second half definitely. After allowing 24 points in the first quarter alone then limiting them to 28 in the second half, obviously mas maganda yung second half namin in terms of effort and adjustments. It’s really the players, they responded to all the things Coach Gold told them to do,” said Luanzon.
Alarcon shot 50 percent from the field to finish with a team-high 16 points, while Lopez backed him up with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Terrence Fortea added 11 points in the win while Gerry Abadiano got 10 points in the win.
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 feasted on the 24 turnovers of the Growling Tigers, scoring 31 off them.
UST, after receiving its second consecutive defeat, slipped to 3-3 for joint-fourth with idle Adamson University.
Malian big man Mo Tounkara had a splendid game for the Growling Tigers with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field while also grabbing five rebounds. He, however, hurt his left foot early in the fourth after stepping on Fortea’s foot. He was able to return but UP was already way ahead.
Cabañero chimed in 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting while Forthsky Padrigao had 14 points, six rebounds, and seven assists but also committed seven turnovers.
UST will seek to end the first round on a winning note when it battles Far Eastern University on Saturday at MOA Arena as well.
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
