Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of the Philippines was poised to gain a share of the fourth spot in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament against National University at the end of the first round.
The Fighting Maroons were ahead 43-39 in the third and were keeping the Bulldogs at bay when NU center Issa Gaye accidentally landed on Jun Manzo’s right ankle causing the Maroon to leave the game at the 7:55 mark of the quarter.
Unfortunately for UP, the Bulldogs were able to capitalize on Manzo’s absence and took the 77-70 victory.
The Fighting Maroons settled for a 3-4 record, a game behind fourth seed Far Eastern University.
“That was a big blow for us,” said UP head coach Bo Perasol in Filipino. “Manzo is someone we rely on in the end, that’s his role. We had to pick somebody and somebody had to step up in his place.”
Manzo has been a reliable scoring option for the Maroons late in games and he showed that in UP’s 98-87 win over defending champion La Salle where he put up nine of his 17 points in the final period.
“He’s hurting right now,” said Perasol. “I’m just hoping he’s going to be able to play in the next games. We all know he’s going to be needed this campaign.”