By Jun Ray Navarres
University of the Philippines eliminates Far Eastern University, 81-64 to boost twice-to-beat bid in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Saturday afternoon at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Following their win last Wednesday against University of the East, the Fighting Maroons went on to dominate the Tamaraws for a 10-2 league leading record.
“We’re just taking this one practice and one game at a time. We know what’s at stake, obviously. Last game it clinched ‘yong Final Four spot for us and now it’s another goal,” said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
“Si Coach Gold, ni-re-remind niya lang ‘yong mga players. There’s this thing that we call ‘keep pounding’. Even all throughout the game, he was reminding the players na hindi makukuha sa isang pound ‘yong parang home run plays.”
Sean Aldous Torculas led the Fighting Maroons with 13 points and five rebounds in a plus-10 efficiency while Francis Lopez a rebound shy of double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
“I feel blessed. I’m just doing my role in the team. Actually, ‘yon lang ‘yong role ko sa team. I’m just gonna keep doing what I’m doing, so one game at a time.,” said Torculas, who was having his career-game so far for UP.
UP’s depth was too much to handle for the Tamaraws with the former’s bench outscoring the latter, 54-18.
The tandem of LJ Gonzales and Jorick Bautista provided for FEU with 20 points and four steals, and 17 points respectively.
With only two remaining games, FEU can only gun for a total of five wins but either fourth and fifth team Adamson University and Ateneo de Manila University will secure their sixth win tomorrow.
UP will face off against University of Santo Tomas while FEU will go against De La Salle University on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Featured photo courtesy of UAAP
Photo Gallery at https://www.facebook.com/BurnDotPh/
Follow the writer on X: @burnsports
