By Jun Ray Navarres
University of the Philippines kept their slate clean after taking care of the University of Santo Tomas, 81-70 in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball tournament, Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Despite missing JD Cagulangan, the Fighting Maroons remained formidable, maintaining a 6-0 record in preparation for the Season 86 finals rematch with De La Salle University on Sunday to cap the first round of the tourney.
“Ang importante is ma-match namin ‘yung effort nila (DLSU),” said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
“Alam naman natin na ang La Salle every time they step on the court particularly si Kevin Quiambao and si Mike Phillips, if you fail to match ‘yong effort na binibigay nila on both ends, we’re gonna be on the latter part and we don’t want that.”
Truly the UP squad is ready for the defending champions after showing their grit against the tenacious Growling Tigers.
Opening the ball game behind by seven, 16-23, the Fighting Maroons rallied back in the second period to cut the lead down to two, 40-42.
UP maintained their momentum to fight a roller coaster third quarter which ended in their favor, 68-63.
Harold Alarcon and Francis Lopez took over for the men in maroons to extend the gap 79-65. UST trimmed it down to single digit, 79-70 but that was the last of it as UP secured the win.
“Much better second half definitely… Obviously mas maganda ‘yong 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 and Lopez finished for a combined 31 points while Terrence Fortea and Gerry Abadiano contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
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.
Images courtesy of UAAP Media Bureau
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