MAINIT NA SIMULA SA MAROONS

Mga laro ngayon:

(Mall of Asia Arena)

12 noon  – FEU vs DLSU (Men)

 4 p.m. – Ateneo vs AdU (Men)

TINAMBAKAN ng  University of the ­Philippines ang University of the East, 87-58,  para sa mainit na simula sa UAAP  Season 81 men’s basketball tournament kanina  sa Mall of Asia Arena.

Kumalas ang Fighting Maroons sa 33-33 pagtatabla sa halftime sa likod nina Juan Gomez de Liaño, Jun Manzo at  Paul Desiderio at hindi na lumingon pa.

Kung pagbabasehan ang kanilang opening day performance, may pag-asa ang UP na mawakasan ang 21-year ‘Final Four’ drought.

“It is just the start. I was happy that we were able to get this win. I hope we could capitalize on the momentum that we have,” wika ni Maroons coach Bo Perasol.

Nanguna si Juan Gomez de Liaño para sa  UP na may 16 points, 7 rebounds at 6 assists habang naging impresibo ang UAAP debut ni Nigerian Bright Akhuetie sa pagkamada ng double-double 15 points at 18 rebounds, kasama ang 3  blocks at 2  assists.

Umahon ang Red Warriors sa 0-10 pagkakabaon sa kaagahan ng laro sa kanilang  zone defense at sandali pang lumamang sa  first half, bago umalagwa ang Maroons sa third period.

“It’s part of the first game jitters but we just have to remind ourselves that we know what to do, regardless if its going to be man or zone. We practice the whole off season, that’s almost a year. There’s nothing out there that we had prepared,” ani Perasol.

“I have to commend UE and coach Joe (Silva) regardless that they just prepared a couple of months back but they were able to fight back,” dagdag pa niya.

Iskor:

UP (87) – Gomez de Liaño Ju. 16, Akhuetie 15, Manzo 13, Desiderio 12, Gomez de Liaño Ja. 10, Vito 7, Murrell 6, Lim 2, Tungcab 2, Prado 2, Gozum 2, Dario 0, Spencer 0, Jaboneta 0, Española 0, Longa 0.

UE (58) – Pasaol 14, Antiporda 9, Beltran 8, Manalang 6, Varilla 6, Bartolome 4, Maloles 4, Cullar 3, Conner 2, Acuno 2, Gallardo 0, Lacap 0.

QS: 18-13, 33-33, 58-45, 87-58