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Lucero’s Career-High, Tamayo and Rivero’s Clutch Shots Key in UP’s 6th Straight Win

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The UP Fighting Maroons close out the first round of the UAAP Men’s Basketball tournament on a high note after defeating the FEU Tamaraws, 83-76, on Saturday, April 9, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. For the first time since 2004, UP has clinched 6 straight wins.  

 

In a back and forth affair, the Maroons stretched the lead to 8 in the fourth quarter, 65-57, from a Carl Tamayo basket. The Tamaraws reduced the deficit to 1, 70-69 with an Emman Ojuola and-one. 

 

Zavier Lucero converted a dagger three to increase the advantage to 6 but was answered back by FEU’s Xyrus Torres. With 14.4 seconds left to play, Ricci Rivero completed a three point play to ice the game in favor of UP, 83-76. 

 

Lucero once again showcased a double-double performance, with a career-high 27 points and 12 rebounds to go with 3 steals, 2 assists, and 1 block. Rookie Tamayo and senior Rivero held their ground especially in the dying minutes to deliver clutch shots to negate FEU’s threats from the outside. They chipped in 12 and 10 respectively.  The endgame heroics of Lucero, Rivero, Joel Cagulangan, and Tamayo prevented the green and gold squad from snatching the lead.

 

FEU relied on sharp-shooter Torres who sank 5 triples to account for 17 points. LJ Gonzales’ 20 points and Ojoula’s double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds kept the team within a close distance but fell short in the end. 

 

“Comparing nung first half to the second half medyo mas maganda execution nung second half. We’re kind of lost nung first half actually, pero at least nung second half bu-mounceback naman,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde. 

 

With another player of the game dub, Lucero still chose to deflect the credit to his teammates. “I don’t do much on my own, I get set up by my guys a lot when there’s a screen, got my guy off the screen last three I hit. Mai Mai (Joel Cagulangan) is usually finding me in places, it’s just our team is really growing, and our chemistry is growing and you have seen our offense again,” he said.

 

“Ano lang, siguro ginagawa ko lang lahat ng makakaya ko na end of the game na rin, patapos na yung laro so, instincts lang din yun na gusto ko manalo, so siguro nakuha ko rin yung rebound na putback ko rin siguro yun. Yun lang instincts na lang pagdating sa last, na patapos na yung game,” said Tamayo on his crucial role late in the game. 

 

The second round commences on Tuesday, April 12, starting with the battle between the UP Fighting Maroons (6-1) and the NU Bulldogs (4-3) at 10 AM. The next game at 12:30 PM will feature the FEU Tamaraws (3-4) and the AdU Soaring Falcons (1-6) as both teams try to bounce back from losses.

 

The Scores:

 

UP 83 — Lucero 27, Tamayo 12, Rivero 10, Cansino 7, Diouf 7, Fortea 6, Alarcon 5, Cagulangan 4, Abadiano 3, Spencer 2, Lina 0, Catapusan 0.

 

FEU 76 — Gonzales 20, Ojuola 17, Torres 17, Alforque 9, Abarrientos 8, Sandagon 3, Tempra 2, Sleat 0, Sajonia 0, Bienes 0, Celzo 0.

 

Quarter Scores: 14-18, 31-32, 58-50, 83-76.

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