UAAP: UP Maroons crush Adamson Falcons in bounce back win

UP Fighting Maroons’ Malick Diouf in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines vented its ire on Adamson, 77-51, to regain its winning ways in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Malick Diouf led the balanced attack of the Fighting Maroons with 12 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks, while Reyland Torres also scored 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists to bounce back from 99-89 loss to Ateneo in overtime last Sunday.

“This was a good bounce-back game for us, coming off a loss in the last game. It’s the start of the second round obviously and Coach Gold emphasized one thing, even from the start of the season–to keep pounding, which means we have to build the things we want to improve as a team on both ends. We were quite satisfied to get that bounce-back performance on both ends,” said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon speaking for Goldwin Monteverde.

Francis Lopez set the tone by scoring all of his 11 points in the first half, where the Maroons limited the Falcons to just 20 points.

“I like it. Coming from a loss, that hurt us, obviously, but Coach Gold was trying to tell us what we should do about this game, how we should bounce back,” said Lopez, who also tallied seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal. “We did it but the job is not finished for us. We got a lot of things to do. We’re just happy we got this win.”

UP Fighting Maroons’ Francis Lopez. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Harold Alarcon contributed nine points for UP, while Janjan Felicilda had seven points, five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, stepping up for the team with JD Cagulangan injuring his left hamstring in the second quarter.

UP gets a shot at redemption against defending champion Ateneo on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jerom Lastimosa carried by Jed Colonia to the dugout after hitting knees with Gerry Abadiano. #UAAPSeason86 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/pG5FUEYPX4

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) October 25, 2023

Jerom Lastimosa returned to action for Adamson after missing the whole first round and scored three points, but he got hurt after hitting knees with Gerry Abadiano midway through the third quarter. He got carried off the court by his teammate Jed Colonia and never returned.

Adamson absorbed its third straight loss and slid to 3-5 tied with Far Eastern University, which it battles on Saturday at MOA Arena.

Joshua Yerro and Eli Ramos led the Falcons with seven points each, while OJ Ojarikre had six points and 13 rebounds.

The Score:

UP (77) – Torres 12, Diouf 12, Lopez 11, Alarcon 9, Torculas 7, Felicilda 7, Gonzales 7, Briones 3, Belmonte 3, Cansino 3, Abadiano 2, Alter 1, Cagulangan 0, Gagate 0, Pablo 0.

AdU (51) – Yerro 7, Ramos 7, Montebon 6, Ojarikre 6, Calisay 6, Canete 4, Lastimosa 3, Manzano 3, Anabo 3, Magbuhos 2, Colonia 2, Sabandal 2, Erolon 0, Barcelona 0, Hanapi 0, Barasi 0. 

 Quarterscores: 17-11, 40-20, 58-38, 77-51