MAROONS LUMAPIT SA FIRST ROUND SWEEP

Mga laro sa Sabado:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
8 a.m. – FEU-D vs UST (JHS)
9:45 a.m. – Ateneo vs NUNS (JHS)
11:30 a.m. – FEU vs UST (Women)
1:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU (Women)
4:30 p.m. – FEU vs UST (Men)
6:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU (Men)

NALIMITAHAN ng University of the Philippines ang University of Santo Tomas sa pitong puntos sa final period upang itarak ang 81-70 panalo at lumapit sa first round sweep sa UAAP men’s basketball tournament kagabi sa Araneta Coliseum.

Ito ang ika-6 na sunod na panalo ng Fighting Maroons, pawang via double digits, at nakatuon ngayon ang Season 84 champions sa pinakaaabangang laro ng season.

Susunod para sa UP ang rematch ng championship series sa La Salle noong nakaraang taon sa Linggo sa Mall of Asia Arena. Ito ang magiging unang paghaharap nila magmula nang gapiin ng Green Archers ang Fighting Maroons sa tatlong Finals games.

“Much better second half definitely. After allowing 24 points in the first quarter alone then limiting them to 28 in the second half, obviously mas maganda yung second half namin in terms of effort and adjustments. It’s really the players, they responded to all the things coach Goldwin (Monteverde) told them to do,” sabi ni UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.

“Ang importante is ma-match namin yung effort nila. Alam naman natin na ang La Salle everytime they step on the court particularly si Kevin Quiambao and si Mike Phillips if you fail to match yung effort na binibigay nila on both ends, we’re gonna be on the latter part and we don’t want that,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang Growling Tigers, na binigyan ang Fighting Maroons ng magandang laban sa unang tatlong periods bago tumukod sa final quarter, ay natalo ng dalawang sunod at nahulog sa 3-3 overall.

Tumapos si Alarcon na may 16 points, 3 assists at 3 rebounds, habang nagdagdag si Francis Lopez ng 15 points, 6 boards, 2 blocks at 2 assists para sa UP.

Iskor:
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