ILOILO City – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons imposed their presence from start to finish to defeat Elite Lab, 80-64, in their exhibition match on Sunday night at the University of San Agustin Gym here.
Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano spearheaded the offense for the Fighting Maroons with 13 points, including two outside conversions, while Jeomer Cagulangan added 12 points, 10 coming in the opening quarter.
Maodo Malick Diouf was unstoppable inside with 10 points to go with double-digit number of rebounds, while RC Calimag drilled two triples to end up with 10 markers for the reigning UAAP men’s basketball champions.
Cagulangan anchored the Fighting Maroons’ offense in the opening quarter with a couple of outside shots followed by two baskets from Carl Tamayo as they cruised to a 27-12 lead.
Elite Lab managed to hang around at 17-31 on inside conversions by Emmanuel Ojuola but the Fighting Maroons quickly pull away with outside shots from Calimag and Terrence Fortea for a 38-17 edge.
The Iloilo City-based Elite Lab unloaded 10 straight points, including two outside conversions from Marvin Cuerbo, but the Fighting Maroons got an inside shot from Diouf for a 40-27 halftime lead.
UP started the third period with a 10-0 scoring blast behind Diouf and Cagulangan as the lead reached 47-27. It later grew to as high as 25 markers following outside hits by Calimag.
The Fighting Maroons were still ahead 62-39 entering the fourth but Elite Lab leaned on inside baskets from Ojuola and outside connections by Oscar Roy Jacinto and Gwyn Miles Pendon to make the final score respectable.
Ojuola, a former foreign player for Far Eastern University Tamaraws, finished the game with 24 points, while Western Institute of Technology star Cuerbo added 11 markers for Elite Lab.
The Goldwyn Monteverde-mentored Fighting Maroons completed a sweep of their two-game friendlies with Elite Lab after also winning their first encounter last Saturday at City of Passi Arena.
BOX SCORE:
UP 80 – Abadiano 13, Cagulangan 12, Diouf 10, Calimag 10, Fortea 8, Catapusan 6, Tamayo 5, Alarcon 4, Gonzales 4, Eusebio 3, Ramos 3, Madrigal 2, Torres 0, Torculas 0.
ELITE LAB 64 – Ojuola 24, Cuerbo 11, Ikeh 6, Pendon 6, Pantin 4, Parrenas 3, Jacinto 3, Galas 2, Octavio 2, Pedrita 1, Bardaloza 1, Amagan 0, Lingga 0, Delina 0.
Quarterscores: 27-12, 40-27, 62-39, 80-64./PN
