MANILA, Philippines – The UP Fighting Maroons remained unscathed through six games in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, firing off another second-half pullaway to overpower the UST Growling Tigers, 81-70, at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, October 2.
With the win, UP came one win away from a first-round sweep at 6-0, with only defending champion La Salle (5-1) left on the docket on Sunday, October 6. UST, meanwhile, slid down to fifth with a 3-3 slate off its second straight loss.
Stepping up for the sick JD Cagulangan, veteran sniper Harold Alarcon led the way with a team-high 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting plus 3 rebounds and 3 assists, while high-flying sensation Francis Lopez bullied his way to 15 points on a 7-of-11 clip.
“Obviously, we had a better second half in terms of effort and adjustments, but it’s really the players. They responded to all the things that coach Gold (Monteverde) told them to do, especially during halftime,” said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
Blazing ahead to a quick 14-7 start and as many as 9, 25-16, in the first half, UST found itself still ahead of UP until the 2:37 mark of the third, 61-58, after a Mo Tounkara score off a Dikachi Udodo goaltend call.
That, however, proved to be the last drop of fuel in the tank for the reeling Tigers after the Maroons shifted up a gear in crunch time, exploding with a 21-4 breakaway bridging the final two frames to suddenly mount a 14-point separation, 79-65, with 3:22 left to play.
In between Lopez bully-ball layups and silky Alarcon mid-range jumpers, UST only managed a measly two field goals in that final rally, one inside from Christian Manaytay at the start of the period then a Forthsky Padrigao three that only whittled down the final margin eight whole game minutes later.
Fill-in starter Janjan Felicilda added 8 points in the win and a game-high 7 rebounds, despite only being 5-foot-7. Towering big man Quentin Millora-Brown likewise had the same 8-point, 7-board line.
“This is a tough UST team, obviously a much better team compared to the last season just like any other team in the UAAP,” Luanzon continued.
“You can always expect their A game, so kudos to them. We’re just fortunate that in the end, we were able to hold them down especially in the fourth quarter.”
Tounkara fought through a late left ankle sprain to finish with a game-high 21 points on a stellar 9-of-10 clip with 5 rebounds.
Nic Cabañero scored 15 on 4-of-12 shooting and 7-of-10 free throws for the Tigers, while Padrigao scattered 14 points, 7 assists, 5 boards, and 2 steals, albeit with 7 turnovers.
The Scores
UP 81 – Alarcon 16, Lopez 15, Fortea 11, Abadiano 10, Millora-Brown 8, Felicilda 8, Ududo 6, Torculas 5, Torres 2, Bayla 0, Belmonte 0, Briones 0, Alter 0.
UST 70 – Tounkara 21, Cabanero 15, Padrigao 14, Paranada 5, Manaytay 4, Llemit 4, Danting 3, Crisostomo 2, Mahmood 2, Acido 0, Robinson 0, Laure 0, Pangilinan 0, Estacio 0, Calum 0.
Quarters: 16-23, 40-42, 68-63, 81-70.
