UAAP: UP leans on late rally to beat UST and stay unbeaten

Francis Lopez and UP Fighting Maroons celebrate a point against UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines needed to dig deep in the second half after trailing University of Santo Tomas before pulling off an 81-70 victory to remain undefeated in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Much better (second half), definitely. After allowing 23 points in the first quarter alone and then limiting them to 28 in the second half. Obviously, mas maganda yung second half namin in terms of effort, in terms of adjustments,” assistant coach Christian Luanzon, speaking on behalf of Goldwin Monteverde, said after restricting the Growling Tigers to just seven points in the final frame.

With JD Cagulangan feeling under the weather, other Fighting Maroon guards stepped up including Harold Alarcon who tallied 16 points with three rebounds and assists for UP’s sixth consecutive win in as many games.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

“Doon sa mga shots ko, kinuha ko lang kung ano ‘yung instinct ko, kung anong nafi-feel ko and ‘yung mga bagay na ‘yun ini-ensayo ko naman, hindi naman basta-basta lumalabas lang sa game eh,” Alarcon said of his two cushion padding jumpers in the payoff frame.

Francis Lopez was a consistent force for UP with 15 points and six rebounds. He also had a couple of assists, steals and blocks as Terrence Fortea added 11 points from a 66.7 clip and Gerry Abadiano 10 points and four rebounds.

WATCH: UP on facing finals tormentor La Salle this weekend. #UAAPSeason87 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/ufPOwi9XvZ

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“It’s really the players. They responded to all the things that coach Gold told them to do, especially during half time. But this is a tough UST team. Obviously, a much better team compared to last season just like any other team in the UAAP, Luanzon said.

“You can always expect yung A game nila. So kudos to them. We’re just fortunate that in the end, we were able to hold them down especially in the fourth quarter.”

READ: UAAP: Quentin Millora-Brown takes pride in his rebounding ways

UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

UST looked promising with a strong first half where it was able to lead UP by as much as nine points. But there was something different in the Maroons when they came out of the dugout for the second half.

Janjan Felicilda and Abadiano drilled back-to-back triples to give the Maroons the lead for the first time, 46-42, as Lopez came up with a reverse dunk.

READ: UAAP: JD Cagulangan, UP eye consistency amid unbeaten start

The Tigers were still within striking distance even in the fourth quarter before UP’s 11-2 run capped by Reyland Torres’ split free throws. Nic Cabañero, who had 15 points, ended the drought for UST with his charity shots followed by a triple by Forthsky Padrigao, who added 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Tigers.

Even with Mo Tounkara’s 21 points and five rebounds, UST still dropped to a level 3-3 card.

UP will finally meet Season 86 Finals tormentor La Salle on Sunday to end the first round while UST tries to buck a two-game losing streak against Far Eastern University on Saturday, both at Mall of Asia Arena.