The UP Fighting Maroons return to the winning track by warding off the late-game run of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 72-69, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on April 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With the win, the Fighting Maroons maintained its second spot in the team standings with a 9-2 win-loss record. They also clinched a slot in the final four of the tournament. 

Carl Tamayo paced the Fighting Maroons with a double-double output, scoring a career-high 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Maodo Diouf also posted a double-double performance by chipping in 15 points and collaring 18 rebounds. Ricci Rivero contributed 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and three assists. 

Anchored in a good defense, the Fighting Maroons controlled the first three quarters of the game, even establishing a 16-point lead in the second period. 

In the final quarter, UP seemed to coast for a definitive victory when Diouf converted a basket from an assist by Joel Cagulangan to give UP a 71-59 advantage, with a minute and 52 seconds left in the game.

The Green Archers, led by Deschon Winston and Michael Phillips, however made a 10-0 run to cut UP’s lead to two, 71-69, still with 10.5 seconds to play. In the next UP’s ball possession, Rivero, who was sent to the charity line on a duty foul by Phillips, split his free throws to open a window of opportunity for DLSU to send the game into overtime. With 8.6 seconds to go, DLSU’s Mark Nonoy’s left corner three-point attempt hit the top of the board and Diouf got the ball from a rebound scramble as time expired. 

The Fighting Maroons outscored the Green Archers in starters point production and fastbreak points, 53-39 and 19-8, respectively, while DLSU had a 30-19 advantage in the bench scoring.

UP will face the University of the East Red Warriors on April 26, Tuesday, 12:30 p.m.