LOOKING UP: Maroons remain red-hot
VEEJAY Pre and the University of the Philippines prevent University of the East from taking the game away from their hands in the Season 89 UAAP basketball tournament on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Photo courtesy of UAAP
Games today:
(Blue Eagle Gym)
2:30 p.m. — NU vs FEU
6 p.m. — La Salle vs Adamson
It wasn’t pretty, but still a win, nonetheless.
University of the Philippines (UP) survived quite a scare from upset-conscious University of the East (UE), 91-81, to end the first round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on a three-game winning streak on Saturday at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Fighting Maroons had a couple of anxious moments in the fourth quarter as the Red Warriors closed in to within striking distance but still pulled through for a 5-2 win-loss record for the solo lead.
UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde liked how his wards responded to UE’s tough challenge. He, however, wasn’t particularly happy with the Fighting Maroons starting rather a little bit sluggish.
That slow start actually put the Fighting Maroons down to a 10-point hole in the second quarter.
“Actually, UE beat us to the punch, in a way,” Monteverde admitted.
“That’s one test for the team, coming from behind, playing tough defense to get back in the game. Along the way, of course, we need to learn to start strong. I guess as we go along the season, we’ll learn to do those,” he added.
Transferee wingman James Payosing led seven UP players in double- figure scoring. He finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Chicco Briones added 13 points, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, while Gani Stevens contributed 12 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks for the Fighting Maroons.
Veejay Pre added 11 points, seven rebounds, and six assists while Elliott Dimaculangan got 11 while Noy Remogat and Dikachi Ududo, who have helped keep the Fighting Maroons unbeaten since taking over the spot from fellow Nigerian Francis Nnoruka, chipped in 10 points apiece.
Trailing, 61-65, late in the third quarter, Briones and Dimaculangan combined for 12 unanswered points to put UP in front, 73-65, entering the final period.
The Red Warriors refused to back down, however, as Toper Lagat knocked down two triples in the payoff period to keep the squad within five points, 81-86, with 2:55 remaining.
UE, however, would not score after that as it remained winless in seven outings this season.
The result extended the Red Warriors’ losing streak to 27 games dating back to Season 87, pushing them further into the record books for futility.
UE’s skid now matches the second-longest in league history, ironically, set by the Fighting Maroons from Seasons 75 to 77.
Adamson University holds the worst slump with 35 consecutive defeats from 1999 to 2002.
The Red Warriors were on fire in the second period and even led, 43-33, after a Lagat three-pointer with 3:48 left.
UP, however, trimmed the deficit to just three at halftime, 45-48.
The Fighting Maroons dominated inside, muscling their way to a 40-16 lead in points in the paint and made a killing from the foul line after converting 30 of their 46 attempts.
The Red Warriors, meanwhile, went 13-of-21 from the stripe but nailed 12 triples.
Lagat continued to be the bright spot for UE, finishing with 26 points and five assists before fouling out with 1:10 left in the game.
Mo Tañedo chipped in 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists while Cole Cruz-Dumont added 10 points in the losing effort for the Red Warriors.
Backup big man Dexter Santos was ejected with 34.3 seconds remaining after striking Ududo on the back of the head during a box-out play.