The UP Fighting Maroons needed a rally, a bit of patience, and a lot of muscle in the paint to close the first round of the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament with a 91-81 win over a red-hot UE Red Warriors on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Fighting Maroons won their third straight to improve to 5-2 and take the provisional lead in the standings, a notch ahead of the idle FEU Tamaraws and NU Bulldogs, both at 4-2. That run began right after back-to-back losses to those same two teams.
UP Sends UE to 27th Straight Loss
For UE, the story is a grim one. The Red Warriors fell to 0-7, stretching their losing streak to 27 games dating back to Season 87. It ties the second-longest skid in league history, matching the 27-game slide of the UP Fighting Maroons from Seasons 75 to 77. Adamson still owns the record at 35 straight defeats from 1999 to 2002.
“Actually, naunahan kami ng UE in a way. That’s one test for the team—coming from behind, playing tough defense para makabalik sa game. Along the way, siyempre kailangan naming matuto to start strong. I guess as we go along sa season, we’ll learn to do those,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
UP Weathers UE’s Storm
UE was dangerous from the opening tip, draining 12 triples and building a 10-point lead, 43-33, late in the second quarter. UP chipped away and cut it to three, 45-48, at the break.
The Warriors still held a 65-61 edge late in the third when graduating marksman Chicco Briones and Elliot Dimaculangan combined for 12 unanswered points. The 73-65 lead was UP’s heading into the fourth.
UE did not go quietly. Toper Lagat hit two threes in the final frame to pull within five, 81-86, with 2:55 to go. Those were the Red Warriors’ last points of the game.
The difference was inside. UP outscored UE 40-16 in the paint and made 30 of its 46 free throws, while UE shot 38 percent from the field and went 13-of-21 from the stripe.
Fighting Maroons Lean on Balanced Attack
Seven Fighting Maroons scored in double figures, led by transferee James Payosing with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Briones added 13 on a perfect 3-of-3 from deep, and Gani Stevens had 12 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
Veejay Pre filled the stat sheet with 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Dimaculangan also had 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Rey Remogat and Dikachi Ududo, who has kept UP unbeaten since taking over for fellow Nigerian Francis Nnoruka, chipped in 10 each.
Lagat was a one-man show for UE with 26 points and 5 assists. Mo Tañedo had 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Cole Cruz-Dumont added 10.
Backup big man Dexter Santos was ejected with 34.3 seconds left after striking Ududo on the back of the head during a box-out.
