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UP FIGHTING MAROONS

Stellar Lucero Comeback Assures UP of a Twice-to-Beat Advantage in the Final Four

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The UP Fighting Maroons took charge early in the game and held on to their lead to keep the UE Red Warriors winless, 81-68, on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

 

At the end of the first quarter, the Maroons breezed through a 10-point lead, 18-8, and pulled away in the third quarter, 51-32. The Warriors came within 9 at the 8-minute mark in the fourth, 61-52, after Clint Escamis converted an and-one.  

 

That was before the maroon-clad squad launched a 20-9 blast capped by a Zavier Lucero triple to give UP its biggest separation at 20, 81-61, with 1:50 remaining.  

 

Resurgent Lucero broke out of his slump to lead UP with 20 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. 

 

Ricci Rivero had 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block but turned the ball over 5 times. Malick Diouf dominated the boards, tallying 15 rebounds to go with his 6 points, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.

 

Anton Eusebio was a spark off the bench, chipping in 7 markers, 4 rebounds, and 1 block in just a little over 8 minutes of play.

 

Teamwork and chemistry were on display as the Fighting Maroons had a total of 26 assists, including 5 dimes each from CJ Cansino, Carl Tamayo, and JD Cagulangan. 

 

Jojo Antiporda led UE with 15 points while Nicholas Paranada had 13. Escamis chipped in nine points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.

 

“Working pa rin kami as a team — how to get ‘yung rhythm namin as a team, how to execute as a team which nakikita ko we’ve been doing for the whole game kanina,” said Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde.

 

The UP victory and the DLSU loss to FEU cemented the Fighting Maroons’ position in second place, gaining a twice-to-beat advantage. They now hold the best record for UP in the final four era at 10-2 even with two games remaining. Furthermore, this is the third consecutive year that the Maroons have made it to the final four.

 

UP (10-2) goes for three straight when they face UST (3-9) on Thursday’s closer. UE (0-12) will try to snatch a win versus final four contender NU (5-7) at 10 AM.  

 

The Scores:

 

UP 81 — Lucero 20, Rivero 17, Cansino 8, Tamayo 7, Eusebio 7, Diouf 6, Abadiano 6, Cagulangan 4, Fortea 4, Spencer 2, Calimag 0, Alarcon 0.

 

UE 68 — Antiporda 15, N. Paranada 13, Escamis 9, K. Paranada 8, Beltran 7, Sawat 4, Pagsanjan 4, J. Cruz 3, Villanueva 3, Lorenzana 2, Abatayo 0, Tulabut 0, Guevarra 0, Pascual 0, P. Cruz 0.

 

Quarter Scores: 18-8, 44-26, 59-44, 81-68.

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