Harold Alarcon, Francis Lopez, and Janjan Felicilda step up for a sick JD Cagulangan, towing undefeated UP to a different late breakaway, this time in opposition to reeling UST
MANILA, Philippines – The UP Preventing Maroons remained unscathed via six video games within the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball match, firing off one other second-half pullaway to overpower the UST Growling Tigers, 81-70, on the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, October 2.
With the win, UP got here one win away from a first-round sweep at 6-0, with solely defending champion La Salle (5-1) left on the docket on Sunday, October 6. UST, in the meantime, slid all the way down to fifth with a 3-3 slate off its second straight loss.
Stepping up for the sick JD Cagulangan, veteran sniper Harold Alarcon led the way in which with a team-high 16 factors on 7-of-14 taking pictures plus 3 rebounds and three assists, whereas high-flying sensation Francis Lopez bullied his approach to 15 factors on a 7-of-11 clip.
“Clearly, we had a greater second half by way of effort and changes, but it surely’s actually the gamers. They responded to all of the issues that coach Gold (Monteverde) instructed them to do, particularly throughout halftime,” mentioned UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
Blazing forward to a fast 14-7 begin and as many as 9, 25-16, within the first half, UST discovered itself nonetheless forward of UP till the two:37 mark of the third, 61-58, after a Mo Tounkara rating off a Dikachi Udodo goaltend name.
That, nonetheless, proved to be the final drop of gas within the tank for the reeling Tigers after the Maroons shifted up a gear in crunch time, exploding with a 21-4 breakaway bridging the ultimate two frames to all of the sudden mount a 14-point separation, 79-65, with 3:22 left to play.
In between Lopez bully-ball layups and silky Alarcon mid-range jumpers, UST solely managed a measly two area targets in that closing rally, one inside from Christian Manaytay in the beginning of the interval then a Forthsky Padrigao three that solely whittled down the ultimate margin eight complete sport minutes later.
Fill-in starter Janjan Felicilda added 8 factors within the win and a game-high 7 rebounds, regardless of solely being 5-foot-7. Towering large man Quentin Millora-Brown likewise had the identical 8-point, 7-board line.
“It is a powerful UST staff, clearly a a lot better staff in comparison with the final season similar to every other staff within the UAAP,” Luanzon continued.
“You’ll be able to at all times anticipate their A sport, so kudos to them. We’re simply lucky that ultimately, we had been capable of maintain them down particularly within the fourth quarter.”
Tounkara fought via a late left ankle sprain to complete with a game-high 21 factors on a stellar 9-of-10 clip with 5 rebounds.
Nic Cabañero scored 15 on 4-of-12 taking pictures and 7-of-10 free throws for the Tigers, whereas Padrigao scattered 14 factors, 7 assists, 5 boards, and a couple of steals, albeit with 7 turnovers.
The Scores
UP 81 – Alarcon 16, Lopez 15, Fortea 11, Abadiano 10, Millora-Brown 8, Felicilda 8, Ududo 6, Torculas 5, Torres 2, Bayla 0, Belmonte 0, Briones 0, Alter 0.
UST 70 – Tounkara 21, Cabanero 15, Padrigao 14, Paranada 5, Manaytay 4, Llemit 4, Danting 3, Crisostomo 2, Mahmood 2, Acido 0, Robinson 0, Laure 0, Pangilinan 0, Estacio 0, Calum 0.
Quarters: 16-23, 40-42, 68-63, 81-70.
