Second seed University of the Philippines showcased steadiness under pressure, fending off third-ranked University of Santo Tomas, 78-69, to advance to its fourth-straight UAAP Collegiate Men’s Basketball Finals on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fighting Maroons will face the winner between the top-ranked De La Salle Green Archers and the fourth-seeded Adamson Soaring Falcons in the Season 87 best-of-three championship series.
This time, UP, which reached the Finals for the fifth time in the last six seasons, looks to turn its fortunes around after settling for silver the past two seasons, losing to Ateneo de Manila University in Season 85 and La Salle in Season 86.
“Sa amin naman, from yung nangyari sa last season. We took that to heart sa first practice pa lang. We as a team, ‘yung goal namin is to take it one game at a time. Ngayon, nandito na kami. Yan ang maganda sa finals, mag-start kami ng 0-0. It’s a best-of-three series. We’re looking forward to preparing and playing our best,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
The Fighting Maroons shifted the momentum to their side in the third quarter with a huge 21-4 blast through the efforts of Harold Alarcon and Reyland Torres, turning a 34-40 deficit into a 55-44 lead with 2:24 left in the third frame.
Although the Growling Tigers were able to chop their deficit to within 58-62 with 6:55 remaining in the match, UP was just too much.
Alarcon, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Francis Lopez responded to reestablish an 11-point advantage with 3:03 to go, 72-61.
This win was similar to UP’s two victories (81-70 and 83-73) against UST in the elimination round where the Tigers stuck in the game most times only to falter late in the second half.
“Nung first half, I felt na medyo we played tense nang konti. Minsan ganon, sa sobrang gusto natin na manalo, medyo nagmamadali. Sa second half, they trusted each other more. Mas naintindihan namin na we should play together, which is nangyari naman nung third quarter,” added Monteverde.
“Nagsisimula pa rin sa ensayo namin. May one week preparation kami (para sa Finals) so doon namin sisimulan bawat practice,” said Torres, who made 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and seven rebounds.
In the elimination round, Torres only averaged 4.2 points.
Alarcon, meanwhile, waxed hot anew with 16 points, 14 of which he tallied in the second half, reminiscent of how he went on fire in their last game against University of the East where he shot 16 of his 33 points in the fourth frame.
Lopez also notched 16 points while Millora-Brown was a huge presence in the paint, grabbing 19 rebounds and four blocks to go with his nine points and three assists.
Kyle Paranada, Nic Cabañero, and Gelo Crisostomo paced the Growling Tigers with 12 points apiece.
Cabañero, however, struggled from the field, shooting just 4-of-13.
UST lead guard Forthsky Padrigao, who finished with seven points and three assists, was ejected with 3:24 left in the fourth period after incurring his second unsportmanlike foul for an elbow to Millora-Brown’s stomach while trying to fight through a screen. He got his first unsportsmanlike foul at the 9:33 mark of the third after pulling ‘QMB’s jersey trying to stop a fastbreak attempt.
Migs Pangilinan, Christian Manaytay, and Chase Lane have played their final game for the Growling Tigers.
The Scores
UP 78 – Lopez 16, Alarcon 16, Torres 13, Millora-Brown 9, Fortea 8, Cagulangan 6, Ududo 4, Felicilda 2, Stevens 2, Belmonte 2, Bayla 0, Abadiano 0.
UST 69 – Paranada 12, Cabañero 12, Crisostomo 12, Manaytay 10, Tounkara 8, Padrigao 7, Acido 3, Pangilinan 3, Llemit 2, Estacio 0, Danting 0, Laure 0.
Quarterscores: 16-14, 33-35, 57-50, 78-69.
