FILE – UP coach Bo Perasol. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of the Philippines didn’t get the same result it wanted when it stunned defending champion La Salle, 98-87, in the first round of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament.
The Green Archers were raring to get back at the Fighting Maroons and they did in emphatic fashion.
La Salle took the fight out of UP early with a 51-27 lead in the first half before winning, 85-62.
Fighting Maroons head coach Bo Perasol said it was their poor start that caused their downfall.
“Everything went wrong in the first half, and I’ve always maintained that you can’t have a chance against a powerhouse team like La Salle if you don’t bring your best game,” said Perasol Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
UP made just nine shots in the first 20 minutes of the game while allowing La Salle to 15 field goals. La Salle also outrebounded UP, 25-15, in the first half.
“What I can take from that game is we responded well in the second half and I think we even outscored them,” said Perasol, whose team slid to fifth place with a 4-5 card. “I would really feel bad if we were not able to bounce back.”