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| c/o UAAP |
Junior HS Games on Sunday at the Filoil Ecooil Centre
10 a.m. - ADU vs UE
12 p.m. - UP vs FEU
2 p.m. - NU vs DLSZ
4 p.m. - Ateneo vs UST
University of the Philippines dashed Far Eastern University's Final Four aspirations, escaping the Tamaraws, 86-78, to snap a two-game losing streak in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Reeling from back-to-back losses to the DLSU Green Archers and the NU Bulldogs, the Fighting Maroons returned to the winning column to hike their record to a 10-3 slate.
FEU, on the other hand, will miss the postseason for the third straight season after ending its first year under head coach Sean Chambers with a 5-9 card, a two-win improvement from last season’s 3-11 slate. They last entered the Final Four in Season 84 (2022).
The Tamaraws’ ninth loss meant that three teams remained in the hunt for the last two Final Four spots - the UST Growling Tigers, the UE Red Warriors, and the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
It was a hard-fought win for the Fighting Maroons, who are hoping to enter the post-season with momentum on their side.
“Every time naman na may game na ganito and we had to battle it out in the end makes you proud as a coach. Especially coming from dalawang talo, seeing the heart of the players was great,” UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
A commanding 20-7 run to open the third frame allowed UP to cling on to a 67-62 lead entering the payoff period, weathering FEU’s late 16-5 surge to close the frame.
A tight fourth quarter affair saw the Tamaraws’ deficit trimmed to three with 50.2 seconds left after three Jorick Bautista free throws, 81-78, but Cagulangan quickly responded with a dagger stepback triple with 26.7 seconds left to officially boot FEU out of the Final Four picture.
With 2:47 left, Cagulangan scored nine of UP’s last 11 points to close the game to seal the Fighting Maroons’ 10th win in 13 outings. Prior to that, the graduating point guard shot a poor 3-of-14 from the field.
The wire-to-wire win also asserted the Fighting Maroons’ mastery of the Tamaraws, whom they defeated with a 69-58 first round decision last September 22.
Co-captain Gerry Abadiano enjoyed his best game of the season with 19 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one assist, while Cagulangan ended the day with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
Francis Lopez also scored 12 points to go along with four steals, four assists, and three rebounds, while Aldous Torculas chipped in 11 points, six reboudns, two assists, and one block.
In his return, Quentin Millora-Brown contributed seven points and 13 rebounds. The one-and-done center missed UP’s second-round clash against La Salle due to the passing of his grandfather.
Jorick Bautista paced the Tamaraws in the losing effort with 16 points, two rebounds, and one steal, while Janrey Pasaol contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and one steal.
Veejay Pre also tallied 15 points to go along with eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal, while Gambian center Mo Konateh achieved a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds to go along with three assists, one steal, and one block.
FEU will miss the service of homegrown talent Royce Alforque next season, who has exhausted all five playing years. In his final UAAP game, Alforque tallied nine points, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
Looking ahead, the Fighting Maroons aim to end the eliminations on a high note against the Red Warriors on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the same San Juan venue.
Prior to tip off, the UAAP held a moment of silence to pay tribute to the late Ricky Dandan, a former UP head coach and Ateneo assistant coach.
The Scores:
UP (86) - Abadiano 19, Cagulangan 12, Lopez 12, Torculas 11, Torres 7, Millora-Brown 7, Fortea 6, Felicilda 3, Alarcon 3, Bayla 2, Stevens 2, Belmonte 2, Briones 0, Ududo 0.
FEU (78) - Bautista 16, Pasaol 16, Pre 16, Konateh 11, Alforque 9, Montemayor 7, Daa 3, Ona 2, Bagunu 0.
Quarterscores: 22-16, 42-39, 67-62, 86-78.
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