A strong fourth quarter showing by the UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) propelled them to a victory against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 81-70, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Oct. 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The UP Fighting Maroons started slow and was trailing by seven points, 16-23, at the end of the first 10 minutes of action. Spearheaded by Francis Lopez, Harold Alarcon, and Quentin Millora-Browm, the UP Fighting Maroons pushed the tempo of their game and came out more aggressive in the second period. They were able to trim down the Growling Tigers lead to two points, 40-42, going into the second half of the game.

The two teams then engaged in a run and gun game in the third frame and took turns in taking the lead. The UPMBT, led by Alarcon, Lopez, and Terrence Fortea, eventually took the upper hand, 68-63, at the end of the third quarter.

Capitalizing on the errors the UST committed, the UPMBT came out firing in the final canto, scoring 11 points in the first six minutes while limiting the UST’s production to only two points. The UP Fighting Maroons then dictated the pace of the game—extending their lead to 14 points, 79-65, with a little over three minutes remaining. That separation sealed the UPMBT’s sixth win for the season.

Alarcon led the UP Fighting Maroons with 16 points. Lopez had an all-around performance scoring 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Fortea and Gerry Abadiano contributed 11 points and 10 points, respectively. The UP Fighting Maroons will face the De La Salle University Green Archers on Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.