UP outlasts UST, advances to fourth straight Finals appearance

University of the Philippines outlasted University of Santo Tomas, 78-69, securing their fourth straight Finals appearance, and fifth in six seasons, in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament, Saturday, November 30, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City.

As the second-seeded team, the UP Fighting Maroons were armed with a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the Final Four, but it was proved unnecessary as they were able to knock the Growling Tigers out of Finals contention in just one game.

It was a slow start for either team, with the game being neck-and-neck for the entire first quarter, but come the second, UST managed to put things in their favour, ending the half with a slim advantage, 33-35.

At this point, the Growling Tigers’ hopes of repeating history, and beating the Maroons like they did in their last meeting in the Final Four of season 82 were well within reach, but with a strong second half, the Fighting Maroons flipped the script.

Come the third quarter, UST stretched their biggest lead to six, 34-40, but the Fighting Maroons quickly retaliated, with Francis Lopez and Harold Alarcon spearheading a dominant 21-4 run, led by Reyland Torres and Terence Fortea’s sharp shooting, to hike up their lead to the game high of 11, 55-44, with 2:32 left in the third period.

With their Finals hopes on the line, the Growling Tigers managed to cut their deficit to four, 62-58, after a Forthsky Padrigao layup in the fourth quarter, at 06:56.

UP answered back once again, this time with JD Cagulangan sparking a 10-3 run, headlined by Alarcon, and capped by Lopez to regain their 11-point lead, 72-61, with 3:07 left on the clock.

Contributing to España’s downfall, their guard in Padrigao was ejected from the game in the middle of the run due to his second unsportsmanlike foul, called when he elbowed Quentin-Millora Brown in the stomach while evading a screen. His first unsportsmanlike foul was at the 9:33 mark of the third period, where he pulled Millora-Brown’s jersey in an attempt to stop a fastbreak.

Despite that, Christian Manaytay and Mo Tounkara were able to cut the deficit to a two-possession game, 72-66, with 2:09 minutes to go, but with his signature step-back jumper, graduating guard and co-captain Cagulangan dashed UST’s aspirations once and for all, giving State U a comfortable eight-point cushion, 74-66, with only 1:05 left in the game.

With this win, the UP Fighting Maroons have swept the Growling Tigers this season, 81-70 and 83-73, in their first and second round match-ups, respectively.

A big game changer for the Diliman-based squad was their points off turnovers. Both teams turned the ball over nine times, but it was UP who capitalised on them, tallying 12 points vs UST’s two. UP also had more fastbreak points, with 14 compared to UST’s two, and they also grabbed more boards, 51-41.

Millora-Brown grabbed an impressive 19 of UP’s 51 rebounds, so despite shooting just one field goal, he was a huge and crucial inside presence for the Maroons. All in all, he had nine points, 19 rebounds, three assists and four blocks.

Lopez and Alarcon were the top scorers of the game, with Alarcon tallying 16 points, 14 of which were scored in the second half, paired with his three rebounds, one assists, and three steals. Lopez also had 16 points, and contributed six rebounds, one assist, and a block, and played 31:58 minutes in this game

Torres also chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds, and one assist.

Meanwhile, Kyle Paranada, Nic Cabañero, and Gelo Crisostomo led the Growling Tigers in a losing effort, with 12 points apiece.

“Siguro yung talo talaga namin last season,” Torres said when asked about their motivation heading into this season. “Kasi sobrang sakit yun na binigay sa amin yun e. Sobrang sakit na naranasan naman yan. Tas, day by day, parang iniisip namin yun during practice, during games, para maging motivation yun.”

Alarcon echoed this sentiment. “Yung mga talong ganon, mga failures, big help din sa amin as a team and as a player, kasi dun kami maggo-grow e. Dun kami magle-learn sa mga mistakes namin. Dun pa mas lalo nade-develop ‘yung character namin as a team.”

After back-to-back silver finishes, the Fighting Maroons are hungrier than ever to bring the crown back to Diliman.

Next up for the UP Fighting Maroons will be the much anticipated UAAP Finals rematch against the top-seeded DLSU Green Archers–who also secured their Finals ticket last Saturday, after dominating the AdU Soaring Falcons–this Sunday, December 8, at 5:30PM, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City.

The Scores

UP 78 – Lopez 16, Alarcon 16, Torres 13, Millora-Brown 9, Fortea 8, Cagulangan 6, Ududo 4, Felicilda 2, Stevens 2, Belmonte 2, Bayla 0, Abadiano 0.

UST 69 – Paranada 12, Cabañero 12, Crisostomo 12, Manaytay 10, Tounkara 8, Padrigao 7, Acido 3, Pangilinan 3, Llemit 2, Estacio 0, Danting 0, Laure 0.

Quarterscores: 16-14, 33-35, 57-50, 78-69.