The UP Fighting Maroons Women’s Basketball Team (UPWBT) and Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) chalked up another double-win, this time against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in Season 86 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball tournament.
The UPWBT squeaked past the Growling Tigresses in overtime, 73-69, while the UPMBT crushed the Growling Tigers, 110-79. Both games were played on Oct. 14 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
It was a come-from-behind win for the Lady Maroons as the Growling Tigresses were in control in the early goings of the game and were ahead by 10 points in the middle part of the third frame. The UPWBT then stepped up their defense as Louna Ozar and Christie Bariquit came up with timely baskets to trim down UST’s lead to two points, 45-47, coming into the payoff period.
The Lady Maroons were able to snatch the lead, 59-57, on a three-point shot by Rhea Sanchez at the 3:34 mark of the final quarter. The Growling Tigresses, however, responded with a 6-0 run to take back the lead, 63-59, with over two minutes left to play.
UPWBT’s Kaye Pesquera then drained a booming triple to push the Lady Maroons within a point 62-63, with one minute and 49 seconds remaining, while Ozar split her free throws to even the score, 63-63. In the ensuing play, the Lady Maroons locked down the Lady Tigresses to send the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Pesquera, Ozar and Favour Onoh delivered crucial baskets in the crunch time en route to the Lady Maroons’ fifth victory.
Pesquera paced UPWBT with 17 points and three rebounds. Ozar scored 16 points, four steals, and two assists, while Bariquit and Onoh added 15 points and nine points, respectively.
Meanwhile, the UPMBT demolished the Growling Tigers to snatch their fifth consecutive win for the season.
It was a total team effort for the UPMBT as all 14 players fielded in by coach Goldwin Monteverde were able to produce points for the UP Fighting Maroons.
At first, it was a close contest between the two teams until the middle part of the second quarter. The UPMBT was just ahead by two points, 40-38, at the 5:04 mark of the second frame. Then, the UP Fighting Maroons led by Harold Alarcon, CJ Cansino, and Malick Diouf, stepped up the tempo and unleashed a 19-7 run to extend their lead to 14 points, 59-45, going into the third period.
The UP Fighting Maroons continued to assert their dominance and went on a scoring barrage in the second half. Their lead ballooned to 37 points, 103-66, on a three-point shot by Chico Briones at the 4:22 mark of the final canto. UST was unable to recover as UPMBT cruised to its fifth victory for the season.
Alarcon’s 21 points, coupled with four rebounds, four assists, and a steal earned him the best player of the game award. JD Cagulangan had 16 points, nine assists, three steals, and two rebounds, while Briones and Francis Lopez added 14 points and 11 points, respectively.
The UPMBT will face the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers on Oct. 18, 6 p.m. at the MOA Arena, while the UPWBT will play against the DLSU Lady Archers, also on Oct. 18, 11 a.m. at the Adamson University Gym.
