UP guard JD Cagulangan. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—University of the Philippines put up a masterclass to crush Perpetual Help, 104-69, to advance to the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup Finals at San Juan Arena on Monday.
After holding just a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 20-19, the Fighting Maroons went on an offensive onslaught in the second, tallying 36 points to take a commanding 56-33 advantage at the break.
The UAAP Season 85 finalists never looked back.
“The way we bounced back after that first quarter, we really just thought about how we should do it because we started slow,” coach Goldwin Monteverde.
“It’s good that we can see our team bouncing back like that.”
Monteverde said the Maroons still need to iron out some kinks ahead of the final where they will face either National University of La Salle.
JD Cagulangan topscored for the Fighting Maroons with 15 points, four rebounds and three assists while Gerry Abadiano helped the cause with 14 of his own. CJ Cansino and LeBron Lopez also contributed 10 markers each for UP.
JP Boral and Carlo Ferreras both registered 12 points each for the Altas.