UP dominates UE for 5th straight win
University of the Philippines leaned on a fiery fourth quarter run to rout University of the East, 101-70, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The seldom-used trio of Choi Palanca, Sean Franco, and LA Andres spearheaded the Fighting Maroons’ breakaway after UE trimmed the deficit to 11 points late in the third quarter. The three combined for 14 points during a decisive 17-2 blitz that extended UP’s lead to 87-61 with 6:27 remaining.
The fourth-quarter surge, powered by UP’s third-stringers, gave the Fighting Maroons a much more comfortable victory than their 91-81 first-round win over UE.
“What we like in the game earlier sabi ni Coach Gold (Monteverde), especially for the players that came off the bench, the excitement was there to play,” said Fighting Maroons assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
"As a basketball player especially if you’re the ninth all the way to the 16th man, along the season minsan nawawala ‘yung excitement if you’re not getting the minutes. Coach Gold was just proud of them," said Luanzon, a former UST Growling Tiger.
UP improved to a 7-2 record to regain the solo lead in the standings and remain on course for a sixth consecutive Final Four appearance.
Starters Veejay Pre and Gani Stevens continued to lead the Fighting Maroons, with Pre tallying 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Stevens contributed 13 points and five rebounds.
Palanca made the most of his 10 minutes and 37 seconds on the court, finishing with 12 points and four rebounds. Elliot Dimaculangan and Dikachi Ududo chipped in nine points apiece.
“I stayed ready lang po kasi kinakausap naman po ako palagi ni Coach Gold na maging ready sa 16-man lineup. Ready to play lang lagi. Ready lang ako lagi sa ensayo tapos ngayong may tsansa, nag-perform at pinakitang kaya ko at nagawa ko naman po,” said the sophomore Palanca.
Franco and Sean Alter added eight points apiece, while Miguel Yñiguez and Andres chipped in seven and six points, respectively.
UP shot an efficient 39-of-74 from the field for 52.7 percent, while limiting UE to just 22-of-75 shooting, or 29.3 percent.
Toper Lagat sustained his consistent play with 23 points, but UE remained winless after nine games, extending its losing streak to 29 games.
Mo Tañedo added 11 points, while Drew Jimenez and Kean Dungca contributed nine points apiece for the Red Warriors.
Both teams will return to action on November 4 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, with UP facing Adamson University and UE taking on Far Eastern University.