MANILA – University of the East Red Warriors got back on the winning track in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball. It dominated the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers 81-51 on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Carlos Payawal drilled all of his 17 points in the second half to lead the 4-5 Red Warriors, which snapped its three-game slide. The rookie winger also finished with eight rebounds.
Luis Villegas chimed in 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting with four rebounds and two blocks, while Juan Miguel Tulabut contributed career-best eight points for the Red Warriors.
The Red Warriors pulled away after a 20-9 second quarter behind the hot hands of Villegas and inside hits by Tulabut that hiked their 11-point first frame lead to a 22-point spread at the half, 45-23.
The Red Warriors then just pounced more in the second half behind consecutive points by Payaw, leading by as much as 34 after a Harvey Pagsanjan triple with 43.1 seconds left in the match, 81-47.
“Game plan namin talaga ngayon is not to involve UST ano? We all know medyo maybe down ‘yung morale nila pero ‘yun ‘yung nakakatakot eh,” said Red Warriors coach Jack Santiago.
Adama Faye was the lone bright spot for the Growling Tigers with 23 points and 18 rebounds. Nic Cabañero was held to seven points on a 2-of-15 clip from the field. They dropped to 1-7.
In the second game, defending champions University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons tightened its hold on the top spot with a 91-70 rout of Adamson University Falcons.
From a slim 50-45 halftime lead, the Fighting Maroons started to pull away in the third canto behind Carl Tamayo for a 69-57 lead, which later grew to as high as 21 points.
Maodo Malick Diouf tallied career-high 20 points to lead the Fighting Maroons, which now sit atop the standings with 8-1 win-loss slate. the Falcons slumped to their fifth defeat in eight matches./PN
