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Cagulangan Facilitates UP’s Dominant Win Over UST; Lucero Top Scores

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In their second game of the season, the UP Men’s Basketball Team faced the UST Growling Tigers, aiming to bounce back from a 9-point loss in the hands of the Ateneo Blue Eagles. The two teams last met in the UAAP Season 82 stepladder semifinals where UST won and advanced to the finals. This is also the first time that CJ Cansino donned maroon against his former team. 

 

Ricci Rivero, Carl Tamayo, James Spencer, Joel Cagulangan, and Malick Diouf are present at the tip-off. The Fighting Maroons had an aggressive start, forcing turnovers, scoring, and picking up fouls, but UST once again showed their main weapon – the three-point shot. UST had a barrage of 3’s led by Sherwin Concepcion to fuel their 15-0 run. CJ Cansino entered the game at the 3:52 mark and made two quick baskets while Zavier Lucero was tasked to defend the outside shooters. After 10 minutes, the score was 16-25 in favor of UST.

 

During the second frame, Lucero drained consecutive baskets to narrow the deficit to 6. However, UST capitalized on offensive rebounds to get second-chance points. Tamayo and Lucero kept UP alive within the quarter to claw back from a 13-point UST lead. Entering halftime, Tamayo, Lucero, and Rivero chipped in 10, 8, and 6 each, and Cagulangan contributed on the defensive end, tallying 3 steals. 

 

To start the second half, Lucero slammed a thunderous jam to pump up the run and Tamayo went 2 for 2 on the free-throw line to end up in a deadlock at 48-all. Lucero continued to make an impact, locking on defense and converting shots as James Spencer knocked down his own 3s and Cagulangan pushed hard on defense and dropped dimes. The boys never looked back and pulled away from UST, reversing the tide to finish with a 15-point advantage. 

 

Despite attempts from UST to catch up, UP held on to their lead until the end to seal the win. Lucero steered the ship with his hustle and efficient 64.3% shooting average to total 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals. UP may have found its go-to court general in Cagulangan, flourishing with 6 points, 9 assists, and 5 steals. Tamayo had a steady inside presence, displaying his great footwork, and Rivero came up with 19 points to his name. 

 

With a 1-1 record, the UPMBT will gun for a winning streak on Thursday, 4 PM, in a battle with the National University Bulldogs. 

 

The Scores:

UP 98 – Rivero 19, Lucero 18, Tamayo 18, Spencer 11, Cansino 7, Cagulangan 6, Catapusan 6, Diouf 6, Alarcon 5, Abadiano 2, Eusebio 0, Lina 0, Ramos 0, Calimag 0.

UST 82 – Concepcion 19, Fontanilla 17, Cabanero 16, Pangilinan 13, Manalang 7, Santos 6, Manaytay 4, Ando 0, Gomez de Liano 0, Garing 0, Mantua 0, Samudio 0, Yongco 0, Herrera 0.

Quarter Scores: 16-25, 42-48, 78-63, 98-82.

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