By MARK REY MONTEJO
Maroon fans will surely go home with much “Ligaya”.
After an opening ceremony to remember with the iconic rock band and proud University of the Philippines alumni Eraserheads giving delight and touch of nostalgia to the adoring crowd, the State U delivered the highest note with a masterful 77-61 win over its Katipunan neighbor Ateneo at the start of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday, Sept. 7.
JD Cagulangan and Francis Lopez were a deadly 1-2 combo on the offensive end especially in the second half to power the Fighting Maroons over the Jared Bahay-led Blue Eagles.
Cagulangan listed a double-double of 19 points and 10 assists on top of his seven rebounds and two steals while Lopez, who played off the bench, backstopped him with 14 points along with six rebounds and three assists.
Bahay, for his part, topscored for the Blue Eagles after tallying 13 points while Joshua Lazaro and Shawn Tuano added 11 apiece in a losing cause.
It was a back-and-forth affair for both teams in the first quarter which saw Bahay and Cagulangan go brilliant for their respective sides.
But things quickly changed in the following frame where the Fighting Maroons took full control and made a slight separation thanks to Cagulangan and Lopez who gave the Goldwin Monteverde-mentored squad a 10-point lead, 38-28, before the half.
The Blue Eagles, who shot miserably from the free-throw line, tried to mount a comeback, but the Maroons were clearly out of reach with the lead reaching 18 points, 50-32, in the third.
The scores
UP (77) – Cagulangan 17, Lopez 14, Fortea 8, Milora-Brown 7, Bayla 7, Ududo 7, Alarcon 6, Abadiano 5, Belmonte 2, Torres 0, Briones 0, Stevens 0, Alter 0, Felicilda 0.
Ateneo (61) – Bahay 13, Lazaro 11, Tuano 11, Espina 7, Espinosa 4, Balogun 4, Koon 3, Gamber 3, Porter 3, Bongo 2, Quitevis 0, Edu 0, Ong 0.
Quarterscores: 17-16, 40-30, 58-45, 77-61
