MANILA – Gian Mamuyac waxed hot in the third period as Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles prevailed over the University of the East Red Warriors, 94-72, in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Down by four midway in the third quarter, Mamuyac drilled 13 straight points, back-to-back triples, a layup, another triple and two free throws. The Blue Eagles opened up a 65-55 lead.
The Blue Eagles went on to pound the Red Warriors in the fourth quarter with inside conversions from Angelo Kouame, Dave Ildefonso and Matthew Daves as the lead reached its largest at 22.
Mamuyac finished the match with a career-high 21 points, with 15 coming in the fourth quarter, as the defending champions Blue Eagles stayed on top with 6-0 record.
Kouame chipped in double-double 21 points and 13 rebounds to go with four blocks, while Ildefonso and Negrense Samjosef Belangel contributed 12 markers apiece for Ateneo.
Kyle Paranada and Kris Pagsanjan ended the match with 15 markers apiece as the Red Warriors remained win-less after six games.
Meanwhile, Zavier Lucero came up huge in the endgame as University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons moved to solo second place at 5-1 after a 61-59 escape over De La Salle University Green Archers (4-2).
Lucero, who was recruited from Cal State Maritime Academy from United States, conspired with Joel Cagulangan for a huge 14-4 run to turn a 45-52 deficit to a 59-56 lead with 3:27 to go.
After the Green Archers tied the score at 59-all, Lucero surged the Fighting Maroons ahead, 61-59, with 1:49 remaining before foiling DLSU’s several attempts to snatch the win.
Lucero was the lone double-digit scorer for the Fighting Maroons with 21 markers, with 11 coming in the fourth, while Carl Tamayo and Crispin John Cansino added nine markers apiece.
National University Bulldogs (3-3) unleashed a huge second half rally to defeat University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers (2-4), 81-52. Negrense Reyland Torres led the way with 12 points./PN
