Paras powers UP

Reigning MVP Bright Akhuetie paced the Fighting Maroons with 18 points and 16 rebounds. #UPbeatsUE #UAAP82

University of the Philippines (UP) nearly squandered a big lead but recovered just in time and held on to post a 78-75 win over University of the East (UE) in Season 82 University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament Saturday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Kobe Paras made clutch plays down the stretch when the Red Warriors cut the lead to 67-69 as he hit a three-pointer and gave Javi Gomez de Liaño an assist to give UP a 74-67 separation with 1:51 remaining.

Reigning MVP Bright Akhuetie paced the Fighting Maroons with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Jun Manzo added 17 markers and five assists while Paras contributed 14 as UP snapped a two-game slide to improve to 6-3.

“We were able to win more convincingly because that’s what the people want us to do. We’re not going to celebrate this, obviously,” said Fighting Maroons assistant coach Ricky Dandan, handling the team once again as head coach Bo Perasol is serving the second game of a three-match suspension.

“But the relevance of this game is we get a little distance from our nearest pursuer in the standing,” he added.

UP’s win spoiled the big game from UE center Alex Diakhite, who tallied 28 points and 20 rebounds. Rey Suerte chipped in 17 markers for the Red Warriors, who dropped to 3-7.