The UP Fighting Maroons survived the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons’ last-ditch effort, 73-71, in the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on April 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Soaring Falcons controlled the first 10 minutes of the game and was ahead by nine points, 22-13, at the end of the first quarter. The Fighting Maroons then stepped up the tempo in the second frame by unleashing a 26-15 run to even the score, 39-39, going into the third canto of the game.

It was a close battle between UP and AdU all throughout the second half until a three-point shot by Ricci Rivero gave UP breathing room, increasing its lead by seven points, 73-66, with one minute and 31 seconds left in the game. The AdU however mounted a 5-0 run courtesy of a three-point shot by Ahmad Hanapi and a lay-up by Joshua Yerro, to cut UP’s margin to a single basket, 73-71, with 31.4 seconds remaining.

Rivero then missed his three-point attempt in the next Fighting Maroons possession, giving the Soaring Falcons a chance to steal the game. Jerom Lastimosa, however, also missed his triple attempt as the clock expired to give UP its fourth straight win.

Zavier Lucero continued to display his all-around game for the Fighting Maroons. He paced UP with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Maodo Diouf had a double-double performance, scoring 16 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, while Carl Tamayo, Rivero, and CJ Cansino added 11, 10, and 9 points, respectively. UP’s next game against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers is on April 7, Thursday, 10 a.m. UP and DLSU have an identical 4-1 win-loss record.