By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of the Philippines shrugged off another rocky start and fended off University of Santo Tomas, 81-70, to inch closer to a first-round sweep in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Playing without their star guard JD Cagulangan, the Fighting Maroons showcased their brilliance anew in the second half – including their 10-0 blitz which was led by Harold Alarcon in the fourth quarter where they suffocated the Growling Tigers to a measly shooting to seal the win.
UP improved to a 6-0 card and remain as the lone undefeated team in the 8-school collegiate league while UST sustained its third loss for a 3-3 record.
Alarcon carried the scoring cudgels for the Katipunan-based squad as he finished with 16 points while Francis Lopez provided ample support of 15 points and six rebounds.
Mo Tounkara, who got hurt in the fourth frame, tallied 21 points and five rebounds. Nic Cabanero had 15 while Forthsky Padrigao logged 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists in a losing cause.
It was a stellar start for UST in the opening salvo where Tankoura scored 11 points and continued his fine display to carry his team to a 25-16 advantage.
But in the middle of the second frame, the Fighting Maroons regained their footing as they gradually cut the deficit to a close margin thanks to Quentin Millora-Brown and Lopez, who delivered the goods on both ends.
Meanwhile, University of the East completed its fourth quarter comeback and finally ended its 9-year losing jinx against Ateneo, 69-62, while also tallying its fourth consecutive win for a solo third place in the standings.
After being down by 10, 47-37, in the opening minute of the final salvo, Rainer Maga ignited the Red Warriors’ run as he dropped back-to-back triples while Devin Fikes sank his own trey to anchor the Jack Santiago-mentored group to an 11-0 run, 60-54.
Precious Momowei and Wello Lingolingo put on the finishing touches for UE and gave Ateneo its fifth defeat for a 1-5 win-loss record.
Momowei topscored for the Red Warriors, listing 18 points and 15 rebounds while Lingolingo, John Abate and Maga scored 13, nine and eight, respectively.
The scores:
UP (81) – Alarcon 16, Lopez 15, Fortea 11, Abadiano 10, Millora-Brown 8, Felicilda 8, Ududo 6, Torculas 5, Torres 2, Belmonte 0, Bayla 0, Briones 0, Alter 0.
UST (70) – Tounkara 21, Cabañero 15, Padrigao 14, Paranada 5, Llemit 4, Manaytay 4, Danting 3, Crisostomo 2, Mahmood 2, Acido 0, Estacio 0, Laure 0, Robinson 0, Calum 0, Pangilinan 0.
Quarterscores: 16-23, 40-42, 68-63, 81-70
