By NIKOLE JAVIER
No problem this time around.
Forced into extra five minutes the last time, defending champion University of the Philippines went berserk in the final half and dumped Adamson, 91-70, to firm up its hold of the solo lead in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Almost forgotten, Malick Diouf of Senegal used his height advantage to hilt to score a career-high 20 points in leading the Maroons to their fifth straight win and 8th overall in 9 games.
The 6-foot-11 Diouf finished with a 7-of-11 shooting from the field apart from posting eight rebounds and five steals as the Maroons repeated over the Falcons, who gave the Maroons some hellish moments in the first round before losing 87-78.
The game appeared headed for another thrilling finish as the Falcons gamely battled the Maroons on almost all fronts in the first half.
But when the Maroons started to make their shots — ever from afar – the San Marcelino-based squad eventually folded up.
The Fighting Maroons shrugged off the blistering 14-2 run of the Falcons to claim a four-point lead early in the second quarter which the former quickly erased after a Terrence Fortea triple, 34-32.
“We need to improve iyong defense namin. Going towards sa season, we need to work on that. Be consistent, nothing about ‘yong standing [with] where we’re at now,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Earlier, University of the East bounced back in a dominant fashion with an 81-51 rout of University of Santo Tomas.
Cj Payawal finished with 17 points built on five triples apart from eight rebounds and five assists as the Warriors ended a three-game slide for a 4-5 mark,
Payawal highlighted his solid showing with a buzzer-beating triple to end the third frame, 60-36.
The scores:
First Game
UE 81 Payawal 17, Villegas 16, Tulabut 8, Sawat 6, Antiporda 6, N. Paranada 6, Remogat 5, K. Paranada 4, Stevens 4, Pagsanjan 3, Beltran 3, Guevarra 3, Abatayo 0, Langit 0.
UST 51 Faye 23, Pangilinan 8, Cabanero 7, Manalang 4, Manaytay 4, Escobido 2, Lazarte 2, Valentin 1, Calimag 0, Garing 0, Gesalem 0, Duremdes 0.
Quarters: 25-14, 45-23, 60-36, 81-51.
Second Game
UP 91 — Diouf 20, Tamayo 18, Lucero 14, Fortea 12, Alarcon 9, Cagulangan 8, Galinato 8, Spencer 1, Calimag 1, Gonzales 0, Abadiano 0, Ramos 0.
Adamson 70 — Lastimosa 19, Manzano 10, Sabandal 9, Douanga 8, V. Magbuhos 8, Yerro 7, Hanapi 5, Colonia 3, Barcelona 1, Flowers 0, Jaymalin 0, Torres 0, Barasi 0, Fuentebella 0, W. Magbuhos 0.
Quarters: 28-25, 50-45, 69-57, 91-70.
