The UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) opened its campaign in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 men’s basketball tournament with a decisive win against the Adamson University (Adu) Soaring Falcon, 68-51, on Oct. 1 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.

Both teams started slow. However, the UP Fighting Maroons gradually controlled the game’s tempo and was ahead by six points, 31-25, at the end of the second quarter.

The UPMBT then pulled away in the third period with a barrage of three-pointers from the returning CJ Cansino and Harold Alarcon. This gave the UP Fighting Maroons a comfortable lead, 48-35, going into the final canto of the game.

In the final period, Cansino and last season’s most valuable player, Malick Diouf, continued UP Fighting Maroons’ assault to establish its biggest lead in the game, 61-41, with 4 minutes and 22 seconds left. This eventually took the fight out of the Soaring Falcons.

Diouf, who was named best player of the game, led the UP Fighting Maroons with 20 points, 17 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists. Diouf was backstopped by Cansino with 19 points built from five triples. Alarcon chipped in 10 points, while Francis Lopez added five points and 13 rebounds.

The UP Fighting Maroons will face the University of the East Red Warriors on Oct. 4, 10 a.m., at the MOA Arena.