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UP Capitalizes on Strong Start to Survive Late UE Rally, Securing Third Straight Win

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The UP Fighting Maroons won their third game in a row after a wire-to-wire match versus the UE Red Warriors, 81-66, on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

 

UP waxed hot to take an 18-point advantage after the first half, 50-32, and even led by as much as 30 in the third, 65-35, after a Zavier Lucero basket off a Terrence Fortea dime. That was before the Warriors went on a 17-2 storm, underscored by Kyle Paranada and Clint Escamis, trimming the deficit to 11, 73-62, midway in the fourth frame. Malick Diouf then makes four consecutive points to counter UE’s run and get the dub for the Maroons. Despite their valiant effort, UE struggled to crack into a single-digit deficit as UP’s strong start pretty much sealed the deal up until the final buzzer. 

 

“Siguro kaya nahabol din kami nung second half, kulang pa kami sa consistency na kailangan namin trabahuhin yung tiwala namin sa isa’t-isa,” said CJ Cansino. “Siguro kailangan lang namin magtiwala sa system namin and magtiwala pa sa teammates and coaches namin para alam mo yung hanggang dulo nandun pa rin kami so kulang pa talaga, ” he added.

 

Zavier Lucero and Ricci Rivero copped 14 points apiece and a combined 9 boards, while CJ Cansino scored all of his 10 markers within the first quarter for the early breakaway. Malick Diouf proved to be a force on the defensive end, tallying 6 blocks to go with 7 points and 3 assists.

 

Paranada fired 13, supplementing the 16 points and 6 steals of Escamis to help keep UE above water. 

 

UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde lauded the team play of the Maroons and said, “Kung titignan mo ‘yung first game, we moved the ball better today. As a team, nag-i-improve kami and we just have to be consistent.”

 

The UP Fighting Maroons (3-1) aim to extend their streak when they face rivals, the Adamson University Soaring Falcons (1-3)on Tuesday, at 1 PM. Later on, the still winless UE Red Warriors will go head-to-head with the FEU Tamaraws (1-3). For the first time this season, the teams will be playing in front of a live crowd in the Mall of Asia Arena. 

 

The Scores:

 

UP 81 – Lucero 14, Rivero 14, Cansino 10, Tamayo 8, Diouf 7, Spencer 7, Calimag 6, Cagulangan 4, Abadiano 2, Webb 2, Eusebio 2, Lina 2, Catapusan 2, Fortea 1, Alarcon 0.

 

UE 66 – Escamis 16, Paranada K. 13, Pagsanjan 12, Catacutan 5, Lorenzana 5, Pascual 5, Guevarra 4, Tulabut 2, Sawat 2, Beltran 1, Cruz P. 1, Abatayo 0, Paranada N. 0, Cruz J. 0, Antiporda 0.

 

Quarter Scores: 31-14, 50-32, 71-45, 81-66.

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