UP, UP AND AWAY
Fighting Maroons move closer to Final Four
JAMES Payosing soars for a 15-point performance to lead the UP Fighting Maroons to an 82-70 win over the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday.
Photograph by Joey Sanchez Mendoza for DAILY TRIBUNE
University of the Philippines (UP) tightened its hold of the top spot and inched closer to the Final Four following an 82-70 win over Adamson University in Season 89 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
James Payosing provided the spark while Rey Remogat and Dikachi Ududo chipped in significant numbers for the Fighting Maroons, who are on their way to their sixth straight Final Four appearance.
UP has a chance to become the first team to punch a semifinal ticket when it faces struggling Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday at the same Cubao venue.
A transferee from San Beda University, Payosing sizzled with 15 points and four rebounds while Remogat and Ududo added 12 points apiece to help the Fighting Maroons claim their eighth win in 10 matches and stretch their winning streak to six since posting an 80-76 win over De La Salle University on 11 October.
Filipino-Canadian Elliot Dimaculangan also chipped in 11 points to underscore the Fighting Maroons’ well-balanced assault.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University (FEU) formally eliminated University of the East (UE) following a 94-83 victory in the first game to claim a share of third place.
The Tamaraws improved to 6-4 and are tied with defending champion De La Salle University in the standings while keeping their Final Four hopes firmly on their hands.
After struggling in the early stages of Seasons 87 and 88 under head coach Sean Chambers, FEU is now within reach of a semifinal berth.
“We’re happy where we’re at compared to last year. I told the guys in practice yesterday we should be very happy that we put ourselves in a situation where we get to control our own destiny,” Chambers said.
UE threatened to rally in the third quarter, cutting a double-digit deficit to five points, 58-63, with 1:59 remaining behind Jadden Datumalim and Lance Sabroso.
But Mo Konateh, Jorick Bautista and Elias Gish combined for eight unanswered points to close the quarter and restore FEU’s double-digit lead, 71-58.
The Red Warriors last pulled within single digits on a Toper Lagat jumper with 8:40 left, 62-71, before the Tamaraws took control and completed a season sweep following their 93-70 win in the first round.
Bautista fired 18 points and four rebounds while Konateh posted a double-double with 15 points and 19 boards for the Tamaraws, who look deadly and ready to shake up the championship duopoly of UP and La Salle.
UE, meanwhile, fell to 0-10 and was officially knocked out of Final Four contention, extending its losing streak to 30 games dating back to Season 87.