UPward trajectory: Backup unit powers Maroons past Red Warriors

Games on Wednesday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2:30 p.m. — NU vs Ateneo

5 p.m. — Adamson vs FEU

University of the Philippines (UP) proved that even its bench players can deliver whenever their numbers are called.

It was the Fighting Maroons’ mop-up crew that took the spotlight in a 101-70 rout of winless University of the East (UE) as UP extended its hot streak to five for the solo lead in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at Blue Eagle Gym.

All nine players fielded by head coach Goldwin Monteverde coming off the bench contributed on offense, with the Fighting Maroons’ starters taking a backseat in their seventh win in nine starts.

UP’s second and third stringers combined for 61 bench points, outscoring the Red Warriors’ starters (44 points), as well as their UE counterparts (26).

“What we liked about the game earlier was what Coach Gold would always tell, especially to the players who come off the bench. The excitement was there to play,” UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon said.

“As a basketball player especially if you’re the ninth, 10th all the way down to the 16th or 17th man, along the season, sometimes you lose that excitement if you’re not getting the minutes inside. So, Coach Gold was just proud of them. Everybody came out to play,” he added.

“I think this was the first game where in all players played. So, everybody was not only excited but able to sustain the energy and intensity, especially in the second half when we pulled away.”

Choi Palanca led the Fighting Maroons’ bench mob with 12 points, four rebounds and an assist in just over 10 minutes of play.

Elliot Dimaculangan and Dikachi Ududo chipped in nine points apiece for UP.

“I just stayed ready because Coach Gold has been telling me to stay ready in his 16-man lineup. Just ready to play anytime. I’m ready right from our practice and now that I’ve been given a chance, I just performed and showed what I could. Thankfully, I did what I need to do,” the sophomore Palanca said.

The seldom-used trio of Palanca, Sean Franco, and LA Andres spearheaded the Fighting Maroons’ breakaway after UE trimmed its deficit to 11 points late in the third quarter. The troika combined for 14 points during a decisive 17-2 blitz that extended UP’s lead to 87-61 with 6:27 remaining.

Then came the third-stringers to close out the blowout — a much more comfortable victory than the Fighting Maroons’ 91-81 first-round win over the same rival.

Since dropping back-to-back games in the first round, the Diliman-based squad went on a tear and is now cruising on the right path for a sixth straight Final Four appearance.

“We praised the Lord for sustaining our energy in the last two weeks. This was our fifth game basically, in the last two weeks,” Luanzon said.

Starters Veejay Pre and Gani Stevens continued to lead the Fighting Maroons. Pre tallied 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Stevens contributed 13 points and five rebounds. Only Noy Remogat failed to score for UP despite his more than 16 minutes on the floor as a starter.

Franco and Sean Alter added eight points apiece, while Miguel Yñiguez and Andres chipped in seven and six points, respectively, for the Fighting Maroons.

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.