Cagulangan leads UP past Ateneo for its first win of Season 87

University of the Philippines starts off its redemption tour by defeating Ateneo de Manila University, 77-61, to start the season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last September 7.

Playing his last season for the Maroons, JD Cagulangan scored 17 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, almost a triple-double. Sophomore and Season 86 Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez finished the game with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks while going for 8/13 at the free-throw line. The game started slow for both teams, with UP leading the First Quarter 17-16. Led by Terrence Fortea and Francis Lopez’s scoring, the first half ended with a decent UP lead 40-30. 

UP extended its lead in the second half, leading by as much as 18 points, 50-32, at the 7:18 mark of the third quarter 10-2 run capped by a Jacob Bayla jumper. 

Ateneo attempted to mount a comeback in the 4th quarter with Jared Bahay shooting a three and Shawn Tuano scoring a layup to cut the deficit to just 8 points, 62-54, with 5:38 mins left in the 4th. 

The Fighting Maroons quickly flipped the switch with a 15-7 run highlighted by JD Cagulangan and Francis Lopez. A forward pass to Lopez by JD that ended with the former gaining and completing an and-one play. Lopez then had consecutive dunks with 2:30 mins left in the game. Harold Alarcon scored a layup to finally seal the Fighting Maroons’ dominant win over the Blue Eagles.

First year player Jacob Bayla and 6-foot-10 one-and-done center Quentin Millora- Brown had impressive debuts for UP. Bayla scored the first points for UP and the season with a three-pointer and ended the game with 7 points and 3 rebounds. Millora-Brown garnered a  game-high 17 rebounds, 5 offensive rebounds with 7 pts, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. Filling in as the Maroons’ new FSA, Dikachi Ududo also scored 7 points on a 3/4 percentage, along with 3 rebounds.  

Prized rookie Jared Bahay, scored 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Joshua Lazaro, scored 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead Ateneo.

Chris Koon scored 3 points before incurring an ankle injury. He left the game with 3:11 mins left in the 2nd quarter and will miss Ateneo’s next game against the UST Growling Tigers on Wednesday.

The Fighting Maroons aim to start a winning streak this Saturday, September 14 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, against the UE Red Warriors who are looking to bounce back from their opening game loss versus the UST Growling Tigers.

UP 77 – Cagulangan 17, Lopez 14, Fortea 8, Millora-Brown 7, Bayla 7, Ududo 7, Alarcon 6, Abadiano 5, Belmonte 4, Torres 2, Felicilda 0, Stevens 0, Briones 0, Alter 0.

ATENEO 61 – Bahay 13, Lazaro 11, Tuano 11, Espina 7, Espinosa 4, Balogun 4, Porter 3, Gamber 3, Koon 3, Bongo 2, Quitevis 0, Ong 0, Edu 0.

Quarter Scores: 17-16, 40-30, 58-45, 77-61.

This UP Fighting Maroons Club post is in partnership with Jiang Nan Hotpot.