UP secured its first win behind a 13-point comeback against UST
The Fighting Maroons were able to bounce back from their UAAP Season 84 Opener last Saturday. The challenge now is to keep the momentum going.
The UP Fighting Maroons rallied from 13 points down to stun the UST Growling Tigers, 98–82, for its first victory in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament last Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite a rough first half, the Fighting Maroons kept their composure and gained their offensive firepower after the break. Led by the 6-foot-7 Fil-Am recruit, Zav Lucero, who scored 10 momentum-shifting points in the third, UP then erupted for a 36-point quarter, erasing the deficit UST built.
Ricci Rivero also chipped in a team-high 19 points in UP’s remarkable comeback, including the bucket that gave the Fighting Maroons its biggest lead at 21 points, 88–67, during the fourth quarter.
“Credit to the boys, yung adjustment nila sa second half maganda, they played well, even defensively.” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde. “They were active and intense in defending our opponents in the second half.” He added.
UST had a scorching hot start, behind Sherwin Conception and Miguel Pangilinan, but eventually, the UST Growling Tigers were unable to answer the offensive juggernaut that UP displayed down the stretch, keeping them winless in two games.
Carl Tamayo also delivered a terrific production of 18 points and 8 rebounds while James Spencer knocked down three 3-pointers, scoring 11 for the Fighting Maroons’ victory.
CJ Cansino had a decent performance against his former team, tallying seven points and five rebounds in the process.
The UP Fighting Maroons will set to face the NU Bulldogs tomorrow at 4 pm, as they try to build a winning streak for their championship aspirations.
The Scores
UP 98 — Rivero 19, Lucero 18, Tamayo 18, Spencer 11, Cansino 7, Cagulangan 6, Diouf 6, Catapusan 6, Alarcon 5, Abadiano 2, Eusebio 0, Lina 0, Ramos 0, Calimag 0.
UST 82 — Concepcion 19, Fontanilla 17, Cabanero 16, M. Pangilinan 13, Manalang 7, Santos 6, Manaytay 4, Ando 0, Gomez de Liano 0, Garing 0, R. Pangilinan 0, Mantua 0, Samudio 0, Yongco 0, Herrera 0.
Quarters: 16–25, 42–48, 78–63, 98–82.
