UP center Malick Diouf. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines-University of the Philippines continued showing no mercy to its rivals, thumping University of the East, 83-69, on Saturday to move a win shy of advancing to the Final Four of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.
Malick Diouf treated the rip-roaring UP faithful at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with several highlight reels and led the defending champion Fighting Maroons to a sixth straight victory, their ninth overall in 10 games.
“The ball was moving, the defense was good. I think we just have to keep that up in order for us to win the championship,” said Diouf after posting 23 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.
Zavier Lucero also shone with 17 points, his back-to-back reverse layups in the closing minutes putting the Warriors away completely for the latter to absorb sixth defeat after 10 games.
“We continue to take steps in the right direction. We had the chance to put that away early, I thought we missed that chance, but at the same time we were able to control it late and pulled it off,” said Lucero.
The Fighting Maroons built a 21-point cushion in the first quarter and seemed headed for an easy win before the Warriors mounted a fightback in the second half through the efforts of Jalen Stevens and the Paranada brothers—Nick and Kyle.
Kyle Paranada’s three free throws and a barreling move by Steven inside stitched the gap within seven with four minutes left, but the Maroons quickly regrouped and took out the fire on the heroics of Diouf and Lucero.
“We saw the effort that we can compete, hopefully after the break we can make adjustments,” said UE coach Jack Santiago.
Stevens battled Diouf and Carl Tamayo inside and finished with 23 points and pulled down six rebounds.
“We started well, we moved the ball better, especially in the first quarter. The way I see it, we have improved in terms of chemistry. What’s important is we sustain this,’’ said UP coach Goldwyn Monteverde.
The league takes a 12-day break to give way to the games of the Gilas Pilipinas men’s team in the fifth window in Group E of the 2023 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Nov. 10-13. Games will resume on Nov. 17.
The Scores:
UP 83 — Diouf 23, Lucero 17, Fortea 10, Alarcon 10, Galinato 9, Gonzales 7, Spencer 4, Abadiano 2, Cagulangan 1, Tamayo 0, Lina 0, Torculas 0, Calimag 0, Ramos 0.
UE 69 — Stevens 23, K. Paranada 13, N. Paranada 13, Villegas 10, Payawal 4, Sawat 2, Abatayo 2, Pagsanjan 0, Remogat 0, Antiporda 0, Beltran 0, Tulabut 0.
Quarters: 35-18, 49-33, 63-55, 83-69.