The UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) scored its second straight win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 men’s basketball tournament after defeating the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 84-69, on Oct. 4 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Displaying good ball distribution and good defense, the UP Fighting Maroons were in control from the get go and had a commanding lead, 32-9, at the end of the first quarter. The UPMBT’s lead ballooned to 26 points, 42-16, courtesy of an undergoal stab by rookie Mark Belmonte at the 7:45 mark of the second frame.
The Red Warriors, led by Rey Remogat, showed some grit at the start of the final canto, cutting the UP Fighting Maroons’ lead to nine points, 53-62. However, the UPMBT led by Malick Diouf, CJ Cansino, and Harold Alarcon, answered with 10-0 counterrun to extend their lead to 19 points, 72-53, with over six minutes left in the game. From then on, the UP Fighting Maroons never looked back as they cruised to a victory.
The UPMBT was again led by Diouf’s double-double performance, scoring 19 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Cansino contributed 17 markers, Francis Lopez chipped in nine points, while Alarcon and Sean Aldous Torculas scored eight points apiece.
Meanwhile, over at the Adamson University Gym, the UP Fighting Maroons Women’s Basketball Team (UPWBT) also scored its second straight victory in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament by dominating the UE Lady Warriors, 66-48.
The UPWBT, in a similar fashion, had a rousing start and established a commanding lead, 51-36, entering the final frame of the game. The UPWBT continued its good shooting and defense to secure the victory.
Marielle Vingno top scored for the UPWBT, with 13 points and three rebounds. Christie Bariquit contributed 12 points, while Favour Onoh tallied eight points and 12 rebounds.
The UPMBT’s next game against the National University (NU) Bulldogs is scheduled on Oct. 7, 1 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum; while the UPWBT will face the NU Lady Bulldogs on Oct. 8, 11 a.m., at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.—With a report from the UAAP Media Team
