MANILA – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons unleashed a dominant second-half assault to demolish University of the East Red Warriors, 101-70, and seize the solo lead in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagles Gym.
The emphatic 31-point victory propelled the Fighting Maroons to a league-best 7-2 win-loss record while extending the Red Warriors’ misery to nine consecutive defeats.
UP asserted its dominance early, racing to a 29-17 first-quarter advantage before UE mounted a brief resistance in the second period, outscoring the Fighting Maroons, 23-22, to keep the contest within reach at halftime, 51-40.
The Fighting Maroons, however, tightened their grip on the game after the break, winning the third quarter, 24-19, before completely overwhelming the Red Warriors with a 26-11 fourth-quarter blitz.
UP’s lead ballooned to as many as 34 points as the Fighting Maroons cruised to their seventh victory and strengthened their position atop the standings.
Veejay Pre spearheaded UP’s balanced offensive attack with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Gani Stevens chipped in 13 markers. Miguel Palanca contributed 12 points.
Toper Lagat carried the scoring load for the struggling Red Warriors with 23 points, while Mo Tanedo added 11 as UE remained winless with a 0-9 record.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University Green Archers staged a furious late-game comeback to overpower University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 92-80, and register their second consecutive victory.
Trailing 67-73 in the closing stages, the Green Archers caught fire from beyond the arc as Joaquin Tovera, Jan Macalalag and Andrei Dungo buried crucial three-pointers to overturn the deficit and establish an 11-point advantage.
The Growling Tigers attempted one final comeback, pulling within 79-85 following an Amiel Acido triple, but Macalalag immediately answered with another three-pointer before Tovera sank crucial free throws to seal the victory.
Macalalag erupted for a career-high 28 points, while Dungo likewise established a personal best with 24 markers as the Green Archers improved to a 5-4 record.
Tovera delivered an impressive all-around performance with 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds while assuming the starting point guard duties in place of the injured Jacob Cortez.
Acido led the Growling Tigers with 20 points, followed by Landyn Jumawan with 18 and Mark Llemit with 15. Ice Danting contributed 12 markers, while Collins Akowe finished with 11.
The defeat dropped UST to a 4-5 win-loss record, while La Salle continued its climb in the standings with its second straight triumph./PN
