MANILA – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons came up with another great escape. It defeated the University of the East Red Warriors, 62-56, in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball yesterday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Frederick Tungcab came up with a timely three-pointer for the Fighting Maroons after seeing its 13-point edge trimmed to 57-56.
Free throws by Kobe Paras iced the victory for UP.
“It was JD that saved us with his three-point shot in the corner,” Fighting Maroons head coach Dolreich Perasol said of Tungcab, who finished the match with four points and two rebounds.
Bright Akhuetie top-scored with 16 points. Javi Gomez de Liano added 15 markers while Kobe Paras finished with double-double 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Maroons improved to 4-1.
It looked comfortable in the first two quarters by posting a double-digit edge but the Red Warriors tightened its defense in the second half as it slowly chopped into the deficit but could not take the lead until the endgame.
“We had lots of lapses,” admitted the Ilonggo Perasol. “Most of my starters are ball-dominant guys. Pagnakakakita na ng lamang, lumalabas ‘yung personal at individual tendencies to score.”
Alex Diakhite finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds and five assists while Rey Suerte struggled heavily and finished with just four points on 2-of-15 shooting from the field, including 0-of-9 from threes as the Red Warriors dropped to 1-4.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University Green Archers halted its two-game slide with a 68-61 victory over Adamson University Falcons.
Justine Baltazar finished with
double-double 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Green Archers improved to 2-3
slate./PN
