UAAP: Maroons fend off Warriors fightback to stop 2-game skid

FILE – UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–University of the Philippines got off to a fast start, before turning back a gritty stand from University of the East to pull off a 78-75 victory Saturday and snap a two-game slide in UAAP Season 82 at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Fighting Maroons scored the first 11 points of the game, but needed to fend off repeated comebacks by the Red Warriors as they escaped with their sixth win in 10 games to solidify their hold of second spot.

Bright Akhuetie and Kobe Paras delivered the big plays for the Maroons down the stretch after Jun Manzo anchored the strong start for a UP team that had struggled in its last two games.

“Finally, we were able to bounce back,” said assistant coach Ricky Dandan. “We would have wanted a convincing win, but we’ll take this coming off back-to-back losses.”

UP coach Bo Perasol served the second of a three-game suspension for his outburst in the loss to Ateneo two weeks ago.

The Maroons zoomed to a 19-point lead in the first half, but the Warriors rallied behind Rey Suerte and Alex Diakhite, tying the game at 41 just before halftime.

UP carried a 65-50 lead heading into the final period, but the Maroons were held to just four points in the first seven and a half minutes of the quarter.

Paras buried a triple to extend the lead to 72-67 with 2:21 remaining, before assisting on Javi Gomez De Liano’s basket on the next play. Akhuetie answered Diakhite’s basket with a putback off a Ricci Rivero miss to restore the seven-point lead.

Diakhite finished with 28 points and 20 rebounds, while Suerte was held to just four points after scoring 13 in the first half. The Warriors absorbed their seventh loss in 10 games, putting them at solo seventh spot.

The Scores:

UP 78 — Akhuetie 18, Manzo 17, Paras 14, Ja. Gomez de Liano 10, Rivero 10, Ju. Gomez de Liano 4, Mantilla 3, Tungcab 2, Gob 0, Prado 0, Webb 0.

UE 75 — Diakhite 28, Suerte 17, Manalang 10, Cruz 7, Conner 6, Antiporda 3, Pagsanjan 2, Tolentino 2, Abanto 0, Apacible 0, Mendoza 0.

Quarters: 27-10, 46-41, 65-50, 78-75.

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