By NIKOLE JAVIER
University of the Philippines gave coach Tab Baldwin something to think about as the Maroons dethroned defending champion Ateneo with a masterful 57-46 Final Four victory to march onto its third straight finals appearance in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Maroons, who clinched their first-ever top seed in the Final Four era, will face the Archers in the finals for the first time after completing their mission to silence Baldwin.
Baldwin had a verbal spat with Adamson coach Nash Racela during their playoff for the last semis match – and even during their last game in the double-round elims.
The Archers made their way back to the finals with a dominant 97-73 win over National University later in the day.
Reigning MVP Malick Diouf and Rookie of the Year frontrunner Francis Lopez carried out double-double performances for the Maroons of coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Diouf delivered 12 points with 16 rebounds, while Lopez also finished with 12 markers and grabbed 10 rebounds of his own.
Janjan Felicilda chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.
The battle of Katipunan saw both squads engaged in an extremely low-scoring first half affair with UP trailing Ateneo, 22-25.
The Maroons then began to pull away in the third quarter after back-to-back defensive stops which was quickly followed up by Aldous Torculas’ five straight points that shifted the tide to the UP side.
The Archers are headed back to the finals after a long six-year wait.
The two squads finished as the top two sides in the elimination round and enjoyed twice-to-beat bonus in the semifinals.
Fully loaded and motivated, they did not need that “armor” as they played with gusto to blow past their rivals.
Mark Nonoy was the sharpest for the Archers as he delivered a team-high 20 points after connecting on four nine three-pointers and eight of overall.
MVP frontunner Kevin Quiambao registered 17 points to go with seven rebounds, while graduating Evan Nelle scattered15 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
Mike Phillips finished with a double-double outing of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
First Game
UP 57 – Diouf 12, Lopez 12, Felicilda 10, Abadiano 9, Torculas 7, Cansino 3, Cagulangan 2, Alarcon 2, Pablo 0, Torres 0, Alter 0, Belmonte 0, Fortea 0.
ATENEO 46 – Koon 10, Ballungay 8, Espinosa 7, Amos 6, Obasa 4, Brown 3, Chiu 3, Credo 3, Quitevis 2, Lazaro 0.
Quarters: 7-11, 22-25, 42-37, 57-46.
Second Game
DLSU 97 – Nonoy 20, Quiambao 17, Nelle 15, M. Phillips 11, Escandor 9, Policarpio 9, David 5, Cortez 4, Macalalag 4, Abadam 3, Austria 0, Gollena 0, Nwankwo 0.
NU 73 – Figueroa 19, Malonzo 13, Baclaan 12, Palacielo 8, Yu 8, Jumamoy 7, Galinato 2, Manansala 2, Padrones 2, John 0, Lim 0, Enriquez 0, Gulapa 0, Casinillo 0, Parks 0..
Quarters: 20-14, 45-36, 70-50, 97-73
