University of the Philippines kicked off its second-round campaign on a sizzling note, booking a 75-63 victory over National University in Season 85 University Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Zavier Lucero, Cyril Gonzales and James Spencer were impressive as they towed the Fighting Maroons to a huge fourth-quarter run to formally seize the solo lead with their seventh win in eight matches.
Lucero fired 16 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals while Gonzales and Spencer chipped in 15 and 11 markers for the Fighting Maroons, who also drew solid games from Carl Tamayo and Henry Galinato.
But more than stretching its winning run to four and claiming the top spot over idle rival Ateneo de Manila University, UP exacted payback from NU, the team that dealt its lone loss of the season, 75-80, on 12 October.
“Like in our previous games, our defense in the third quarter changed the game. The guys adjusted well,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde, adding that they were motivated to win not just to get back at their tormentors, but to gain an easy ride going into the Final Four.
“Honestly, it’s not just about NU. We just talked about opening the second round by getting as many wins as possible.”
Michael Malonzo delivered 12 points and six rebounds while Steve Enriquez had 11 markers for NU, which suffered its third loss in eight matches.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University sustained its sizzling form as it hammered a 75-68 victory over University of the East in the first game.
Xyrus Torres scored 18 of his 22 points from the rainbow territory on top of five steals as the Tamaraws avenged their 66-76 loss to the Red Warriors in the first round on 5 October.
FEU coach Olsen Racela said he is proud of how his boys clamped down on the Red Warriors defensively in which they turned an 8-23 deficit in the first quarter into a 65-51 lead in the final 6:59.
Although UE tried to fight back off a 12-2 blast engineered by Gani Stevens and Nick Paranada to slice the deficit to four, 63-67, with 2:18 left, Cameroonian slotman Patrick Tchuente answered with back-to-bac baskets to seal the victory.
“I’m proud of what we did, especially with the way we took care of the basketball,” Racela said.
The Scores:
First game
FEU (75) — Torres 22, Gonzales 14, Tchuente 13, Sajonia 6, Anonuevo 5, Sleat 4, Bautista 4, Bagunu 3, Temora 2, Celzo 2, Alforque 0, Sandangon 0.
UE (68) — N. Paranada 21, Villegas 13, Stevens 13, Payawal 9, K. Paranada 6, Sawat 4, Pagsanjan 2, Remogat 0, Alcantara 0, Antoporda 0, Guevarra 0, Beltran 0.
QUARTERS: 8-23, 34-42, 55-51, 75-68.
Second game
UP (75) — Lucero 16, Gonzales 13, Spencer 11, H. Galinato 8, Tamayo 8, Diouf 5, Cagulangan 4, Abadiano 4, Fortea 3, Alarcon 1, Ramos 0, Calimag 0, Lina 0.
NU (63) — Malonzo 12, Enriquez 11, Yu 9, John 8, Baclaan 7, Manansala 4, Palacielo 3, J. Galinato 3, Clemente 2, Figueroa 2, Minerva 2, Mahinay 0, Tibayan 0.
QUARTERS: 21-22, 37-40, 54-52, 75-63.
