FIGHTING MAROONS PASOK NA SA ‘FINAL 4’

Mga laro sa Miyerkoles:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
8 a.m. – UE vs UST (JHS)
10 a.m. – AdU vs UE (Women)
12 noon – Ateneo vs UP (Women)
2 p.m. – AdU vs UE (Men)
6:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP (Men)

UMABANTE ang University of the Philippines sa Final Four sa ika-6 na sunod na season matapos ang 70-59 pagdispatsa sa Adamson sa UAAP men’s basketball tournament kahapon sa Mall of Asia Arena.

Umisikor si JD Cagulangan ng 17 points habang naglaro si Gani Stevens sa kanyang best game sa Fighting Maroon uniform na may 10 points at 4 rebounds sa 11 minuto at 47 segundong paglalaro.

“Obviously it’s my first year, that year off was definitely hard not playing in the UAAP so I just tried to find that rhythm I had and it’s nice to finally — I’ve been working hard these past two weeks, really focusing on our defense and executing and seeing that translate to games,” sabi ni Stevens, na nag-step up na may perfect 3-of-3 shooting mula sa field makaraang makalikom lamang ng 4 points sa kanyang unang walong laro.

May 8-1 kartada, ang UP ay sumampa sa kanilang ika-6 na Final Four appearance na nagsimula noong 2018 sa ilalim ni coach Bo Perasol, ang hinalinhan ni Goldwin Monteverde’s.

Subalit hindi pa tapos ang trabaho para sa Fighting Maroons, na target na mabawi ang korona na kanilang napanalunan sa 2022 bubble, ang unang season ni Monteverde sa programa na tumapos sa 36-year championship drought.

“This was a clinching semifinal game so you know, it’s something that we’re gonna celebrate tonight, so to speak, but at the same time the goal is — the big picture, iyong papasok ng Finals, giving ourselves an opportunity for that,” sabi ni UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.

“For coach Gold, this is something that he’s been doing since he started coaching. For him, it’s more than just the results. It’s all about the improvement ng team and even after this win, still to improve,” dagdag pa niya.

Tulad sa first round, binigyan ng Falcons ang Fighting Maroons ng magandang laban sa first half bago nalasap ang ika-5 sunod na kabiguan, at ang ika-7 overall sa 10 laro.

Susunod na makakaharap ng UP ang Ateneo, isa pang koponan na naghahabol sa Final Four, sa Miyerkoles.

Muling nanguna si Matt Montebon para sa Falcons na may 14 points at 5 rebounds, nagdagdag si AJ Fransman ng 13 points at 5 rebounds habang nag-ambag si Cedrick Manzano ng 12 points at 6 rebounds.

Iskor:
UP (70) – Cagulangan 17, Stevens 10, Fortea 9, Belmonte 9, Abadiano 7, Torres 4, Millora-Brown 4, Bayla 3, Ududo 3, Lopez 2, Felicilda 2, Alter 0, Torculas 0.

AdU (59) – Montebon 14, Fransman 13, Manzano 12, Yerro 6, Mantua 5, Ojarikre 4, Calisay 3, Ignacio 2, Alexander 0, Anabo 0, Ronzone 0.

Quarterscores: 17-20, 38-31, 55-48, 70-59