The UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) had its fifth consecutive win by holding off the determined Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 70-65, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament on Nov. 16 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
UPMBT had a strong start and was able to build a 15-point lead, 31-15, midway in the second quarter. The Soaring Falcons fought back, slowly cutting’s UPMBT’s lead to two points, 56-58, with over four minutes remaining in the final period.
The UP Fighting Maroons then responded with a seven-to-one counterattack courtesy of two free throws from Gerry Abadiano and five consecutive points from Reyland Torres. This gave the UPMBT the separation they needed, 65-57, with less than two minutes left to play, eventually taking the fight out of the Soaring Falcons.
With the win, the UP Fighting Maroons avenged their first round loss against the Soaring Falcons, and secured their seventh-straight Final Four appearance in the tournament.
Francis Nnoruka paced the UP Fighting Maroons with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks, while Abadiano chipped in 16 points.
UPMBT’s next game is against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles on Nov. 19, 4:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.