By NIKOLE JAVIER
Defending champion University of the Philippines cruised past University of Santo Tomas, 76-51, and capped its first round campaign in the UAAP Season 85 in grand fashion Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
The Fighting Maroons flaunted their might and won pulling away for the first time as they closed out with a 6-1 mark to secure the provisional lead.
National University, toting a 5-1 mark, ends its first round campaign Sunday against Far Eastern University with a chance to draw level with the Maroons.
Terrence Fortea finished with 14 points, three assists and three steals while Zavier Lucero added 12 markers highlighted by a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc apart from posting five rebounds, four assists and five steals.
With a comfortable distance built in the third quarter, 57-29, the biggest lead of the entire match, UP managed to field its second stingers until Nic Cabanero fired 10 straight points in the fourth to cut UP lead down to 11, 60-49.
The Fighting Maroons, however, quickly doused cold water on UST’s comeback with Carl Tamayo and Zavier Lucero drilling in back-to-back triples and layups that all but took the fight out of the Tigers, 76-51.
Adame Faye, coming off a one-game suspension, led UST with 15 points on top of 13 boards.
“’Yong last game namin today, we really improved a lot on how we start the game, I think we just have to work on pa ‘yong consistency namin, I thought siguro we have to be more organized as a team. Whatever happens naman noong first round, we will work as a team,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Cabanero had 14 points for the Tigers as they absorb their sixth straight loss after stunning Adamson in the opener.
The scores:
UP 76 Fortea 14, Lucero 12, Abadiano 9, Tamayo 9, Andrews 7, Alarcon 5, Diouf 4, Spencer 3, Ramos 3, Eusebio 3, Lina 2, Calimag 2, Galinato 2, Gonzales 1, Torculas 0.
UST 51 Faye 15, Cabanero 14, Lazarte 5, Calimag 5, Duremdes 3, Mantua 3, Manalang 2, Magdangal 2, Escobido 2, Pangilinan 0, Manaytay 0, Garing 0, Herrera 0, Gesalem 0.
Quarters: 19-8, 38-24, 58-37, 76-51.
