By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of the Philippines can call itself a champion once more as the Fighting Maroons displayed steely nerves and held off De La Salle, 66-62, to capture the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball crown at the jam-packed Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday evening, Dec. 15.
The Game 3 victory marked the State U’s first title after four straight finals appearances and two consecutive championship heartbreaks – and its fourth overall in league history in front of a big Sunday crowd.
Quentin Millora-Brown and Francis Lopez starred for the Maroons in the waning minutes as they registered crucial baskets and collared key rebounds that halted the late-game rally of the Archers after they squandered a 54-40 cushion midway of the third canto.
Millora-Brown, who is playing in his one-and-done stint, put up a superb performance of 14 points and 10 rebounds while Lopez added 12 including a booming triple that gave UP a 64-60 lead at the 1:13 mark.
The 6-foot-6 high-flying forward added 11 rebounds and six assists despite losing the ball nine times. JD Cagulangan also dazzled with 12 points and also took home the Finals MVP plum while Goldwin Monteverde earned his second title in four years.
On the other hand, Mike Phillips tallied another double-double effort of 18 points and 12 rebounds while back-to-back MVP Kevin Quiambao chipped in 13 points in a losing cause as the Taft-based squad fell short anew for a two-peat bid.
Last game’s key offensive weapons in JC Macalalag and EJ Gollena had a rough night, listing only six and two points for La Salle.
UP had its tempo going in the fourth canto where it hiked its lead to 14, 54-40, thanks to Gerry Abadiano’s personal 7-0 blast.
However, that wasn’t enough to take the fight out of the Archers as Quiambao, Phillips, Joshua David and CJ Austria delivered much-needed baskets that eventually tied the game at 58-all with 7 minutes left in the game.
After Cagulangan hit a triple, 61-58, UP and La Salle shot the ball measly and went scoreless for more than 5 minutes.
From there, Lopez and Millora-Brown rose to the occasion as they delivered a top-of-the-key triple and two free throws, respectively, that sealed the match.
The scores:
UP (66) – Millora-Brown 14, Lopez 12, Cagulangan 12, Abadiano 9, Alarcon 7, Fortea 4, Stevens 4, Torres 2, Ududo 2, Felicilda 0, Bayla 0, Torculas 0.
DLSU (62) – Phillips 18, Quiambao 13, David 6, Macalalag 6, Agunnane 5, Ramiro 5, Austria 3, Gollena 2, Rubico 2, Dungo 2, Marasigan 0, Gonzales 0.
Quarterscores: 21-21, 42-36, 56-50, 66-62.
