A strong endgame by the UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) repulsed the last-ditch effort of the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 70-59, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Oct. 27 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
JD Cagulangan led the assault for the UP Fighting Maroons, scoring 17 points, three rebounds, and two steals, while Gani Stevens, who saw action for only 12 minutes, had a great game contributing 10 points and four rebounds. Mark Belmonte and Terrence Fortea contributed nine points apiece.
A slow and erratic start by the UPMBT saw them trailing by three points, 17-20, at the end of the first quarter. The UP Fighting Maroons then tightened their defense and capitalized on the errors committed by the Soaring Falcons as they unleashed a 10-0 run to close out the first half in the lead, 38-31.
Tables have turned in the third period as the Soaring Falcons played good zone defense that made it hard for the UP Fighting Maroons to convert baskets. With three straight triples from Mathew Montebon, AJ Fransman, and Royce Mantua, the Soaring Falcons regained the lead, 46-44, at the 4:30 mark of the third frame.
In the ensuing plays, the UPMBT somehow found the answer to AdU’s zone defense. Led by Stevens, the UPMBT mounted an 11-2 run at the tail end of the third quarter to establish a seven-point lead, 55-48, going into the final frame.
The Soaring Falcons, however, refused to go down without a fight. A three point shot by John Calisay trimmed down UPMBT’s lead to a single point, 58-57, still with three minutes and 47 seconds left in the game. The UP Fighting Maroons then responded with better ball distribution and orderly dissected AdU’s defense. Belmonte, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Gerry Abadiano led a 12-2 run that sealed UPMBT’s eighth win in nine outings. This secured UPMBT’s spot in the final four.
The UPMBT will face the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles on Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m. also at the MOA Arena.
