Bonfire can wait as UP whips UE

UP Maroons celebrate opening win. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons started the season Saturday by making it unequivocally clear that they won’t be celebrating over a single victory.

“I assure you there won’t be a bonfire at the campus to celebrate this win,” vowed new UP coach Rensy Bajar after the Maroons held back the University of the East Warriors, 62-55, in the opener of the UAAP Season 78 yesterday.

High-energy forward Gelo Vito was the unlikely hero for the hosts, swishing three decisive three-pointers in a span of two minutes that helped the Fighting Maroons pull away for good.

“I used to practice my threes. They left me open, so I took them,” said the bulky 6-foot-4 after going perfect from beyond the arc and finishing with a team-high 11 points.

In the second game, University of Santo Tomas deflated Adamson, 70-64, behind sterling performances by Ed Daquioag and Kevin Ferrer to cap the season’s opening doubleheader at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Action shifts to MOA Arena today as defending champion National U debuts against a young but deadly La Salle squad at 2 p.m. while last year’s other finalist, Far Eastern U, battles Ateneo later at 4.

With the Maroons protecting a precarious four-point lead, Vito’s triples late in the fourth frustrated the rampaging Warriors, who battled back from 14 points down.

“I picked him at the right time. He has a high basketball IQ and he delivered,” said Bajar.

Daquioag came up with a career-high 28 points and knocked down the insurance basket—a double-pump leaning jumper inside the lane—with 25.8 seconds remaining.

Playing in his final year of eligibility, Ferrer added 24 and provided stability when the Falcons, led by spitfire Joseph Nalos, nearly reversed the outcome.

“Opening-game jitters. Good thing Kevin and Ed gave us the leadership that the team needed,” said UST coach Bong Dela Cruz.

Nalos, a shoot-first 5-foot-5 guard, scored 11 of his 18 points late in the fourth as the Falcons mounted a late rally.

The scores:

First Game

UP 62—Vito 11, Moralde 8, Desiderio 7, Manuel 7, Dario 6, Prado 6, Amar 4, Longa 4, Asilum 3, Kone 3, Juruena 2, Gallarza 1, Harris 0, Lim 0, Webb 0, Jaboneta 0.

UE 55—Battiler 17, Javier 10, Palma 6, Manalang 5, De Leon 4, Abanto 4, Charcos 2, Gagate 2, Yu 2, Sta. Ana 2, Varilla 1, Derige 0, Gonzales 0.

Quarters: 11-7, 29-25, 45-37, 62-55

Second Game

UST 70—Daquioag 28, Ferrer 24, Vigil 9, Abdul 7, Lee 2, Subido 0, Sheriff 0, Lao 0, Suarez 0, Huang 0.

ADAMSON 64—Nalos 18, Ochea 12, Garcia 8, Capote 7, Margallo 5, Villanueva 4, Tungcab 3, Miranda 3, Bernardo 2, Sarr 2, Polican 0, Ng 0, Escalambre 0, Fernandez 0.

Quarters: 22-5, 28-25, 51-45, 70-64