UP ends losing spell at expense of UE

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines stopped a three-game skid after rolling past University of the East, 94-81, in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Fighting Maroons tied University of Santo Tomas for a share of the No. 5 spot with a 4-5 record while the eighth-seeded Red Warriors lost their fourth straight game for a 1-8 card.

Juan Gomez De Liaño tallied 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists for the league’s first triple-double since UP’s Marvin Cruz had 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Fighting Maroons’ 98-88 loss to Ateneo on Aug. 20, 2006.

And as De Liaño filled up the box scores, Diego Dario was doing things in the fourth quarter for the Fighting Maroons going on a personal 8-2 run for their 71-64 lead at the 7:40 mark of the period.

“More than the win it was the effort in the second half that made us believe that we can compete this season,” said UP head coach Bo Perasol.

“I don’t know the reason why we don’t give a hundred percent effort every game but the second half proved that once we get our acts together we’re able to string up some victories.”

Dario’s surge at the start of the fourth became UP’s foundation as his teammates followed that up with a 9-0 run that Bright Akhuetie capped off for the Fighting Maroons’ 80-64 lead with 5:45 left in the game.

Akhuetie eventually finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds to lead UP’s attack while Paul Desiderio added 16 points and eight boards.

Alvin Pasaol carried the Red Warriors to the tune of 30 points and nine rebounds while Philip Manalang added 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.