Red-hot Maroons

Repeat-seeking University of the Philippines (UP) displayed composure and championship poise in the endgame to turn back gritty Far Eastern University (FEU), 69-66, for its fourth straight win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Gani Stevens converted a crucial basket to give the Fighting Maroons a three-point lead with 1:45 left in the game before Jacob Bayla snatched back-to-back steals to prevent the Tamaraws from firing back in their next two possessions.

UP’s defense held on in the last 20 seconds as the State University dodged the bullet after Jorick Bautista missed two toughly contested potential game-tying three-pointers.

FEU’s Kirby Mongcopa grabbed another offensive board with time winding down after Bautista’s last miss. However, instead of taking a three-pointer, he decided to feed the ball to Mo Konateh underneath but Reyland Torres intercepted his pass as the Fighting Maroons improved their win-loss record to 4-2, tied with Ateneo de Manila University.

Harold Alarcon finished with 15 points and six rebounds, Stevens had 14 points and nine boards while Torres scored 12 to lead UP.

FEU dropped to a 1-4 card despite Bautista’s 18-point outing.

Konateh posted 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Janrey Pasaol had 11 for the Tamaraws.

In the first game, National University regained its hold of the solo lead in an 82-78 escape over De La Salle University.

Reinhard Jumamoy played the hero’s role for the Bulldogs with crucial plays in the waning seconds of their second straight victory for a 5-1 slate.

Protecting a two-point lead with 12.1 seconds remaining, Jumamoy stripped the ball from Green Archers forward Mike Phillips on his way down after grabbing the defensive rebound off the missed second free throw of Jake Figueroa.

He then sank two foul shots with 3.1 seconds left to bring the Bulldogs back up by three before forcing Lebron Daep to commit a traveling violation by disrupting his pass attempt. Omar John split his foul shots to seal the deal.

“We’d like to thank the boys for the way they played. They really wanted this win — even back in practice the other day, you could already see how focused and composed they were,” NU coach Jeff Napa said.

“When we entered this game, we knew they understood exactly what they had to do.”

Jumamoy heroics complemented the hot offensive outing of Figueroa, PJ Palacielo, Gelo Santiago and Paul Francisco.

Figueroa finished with 18 points and pulled down eight rebounds while Palacielo scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter before fouling out in the last 42.6 seconds of the game for the Bulldogs. Francisco and Santiago chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Bulldogs uncorked a 10-0 blast in the payoff period to take a 65-61 lead after trailing by six by the end of the third quarter.

NU got a scare when Kean Baclaan connected a trey to bring La Salle to within one, 79-78, with 4.4 seconds left. Jumamoy was sent to the line for a pair of free throws before sticking to Baclaan to keep him from having a good look to receive Daep’s pass.

The Green Archers, which lost Mason Amos to a knee injury with under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, absorbed a second straight defeat to fall to a 2-3 slate.

Phillips had a double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds, Jacob Cortez had 15 points while Baclaan added 11 points and six assists for the Green Archers. Amos got seven points and four assists.

The scores:

First game

NU (82) — Figueroa 18, Palacielo 16, Francisco 13, Santiago 12, Jumamoy 8, Parks 6, Garcia 4, John 3, Manansala 2, Enriquez 0, Padrones 0, Reyes 0, Navarro 0.

La Salle (78) — Cortez 15, Phillips 15, Baclaan 11, Pablo 8, Amos 7, Gollena 6, Macalalag 5, Abadam 4, Daep 3, Dungo 2, Nwankwo 2, Melencio 0, Marasigan 0.

Quarters: 21-23, 40-40, 55-61, 82-78.

Second game

UP (69) — Alarcon 15, Stevens 14, Torres 12, Remogat 8, Bayla 8, Fortea 4, Abadiano 3, Belmonte 2, Yniguez 2, Nnrouka 1, Alter 0, Palanca 0, Briones 0.

FEU (66) — Bautista 18, Konateh 16, Pasaol 11, Mongcopa 8, Owens 7, Daa 2, Felipe 2, Salangsang 2, Jones 0, Montemayor 0, Macapagal 0, Ona 0.

Quarters: 16-14, 38-36, 55-52, 69-66.