Games Sunday:

(Mall of Asia Arena)

2 p.m. NU vs UE

4 p.m. Ateneo vs FEU

Defending champion University of the Philippines repulsed a late-game scare from De La Salle University, 72-69, to put its title-retention bid in motion in Season 85 University Athletic Association of the Philippines men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Carl Tamayo dropped a double-double for the Fighting Maroons, firing 18 points and grabbing 19 rebounds as they join University of Santo Tomas on top with identical 1-0 win-loss records at the start of the premier collegiate cagefest.

With UP ahead, 70-66, with 6.6 seconds remaining, Evan Nelle drained a triple to cut the lead to one, 70-69.

Tamayo then drained a couple of free throws with four seconds left to give the Maroons some space.

Nelle tried to make something happen in the dying seconds but turned the ball over as the game ended.

The Maroons scored 32 bench points, led by Terrence Fortea with 15. La Salle could only hit 21 points.

UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde said defense was the gamechanger.

"We focus on our defense in the game. Especially in the third quarter, we tackled the game defensively. We're getting easy shots. Defense was a big deal," Monteverde said.

Aside from Tamayo and Fortea, Malick Diouf flirted with a double-double, making nine points and hauling down 15 rebounds.

Schonny Winston carried La Salle with 27 points.