MANILA – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons sent Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles on a brink of dethronement following an 81-74 upset in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball finals on Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Zavier Lucero, Ricci Rivero and Carl Tamayo came up huge in the extension period as the Fighting Maroons moved a win closer to its first championship since 1986.
Down 74-71 in the OT period, the Fighting Maroons tied the score at 74-all with a three-point conversion from Lucero before taking the lead at 77-74 on a three-point play by Rivero.
After misses by the Blue Eagles, the Fighting Maroons widened the lead to 79-74 on a basket by Tamayo before Rivero wrapped up the win with two free throws.
Aside from their offense, the Fighting Maroons also showed splendid defense in the overtime period against the Blue Eagles as they forced the latter to three 24 second violations.
Lucero finished the game with double-double 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Fighting Maroons took a 1-0 edge in the best-of-three titular showdown.
Rivero top-scored for the Fighting Maroons with 19 points, Spencer chipped in 13 markers, while Tamayo and Diouf also hit double figures on offense with 10 points each.
The Fighting Maroons were already on the brink of defeat with the Blue Eagles leading 68-60 but back-to-back conversions from Maodo Malick Diouf to slice the deficit to 64-68.
The Blue Eagles widened it to 70-64 with a basket from Raffy Verano but a three-point play by Lucero followed by a three-pointer by James Spencer knotted the score at 70-all.
Angelo Kouame led the Blue Eagles with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, four assists, and two steals, while Negrense Samjosef Belangel and Raffy Verano each tallied 17 points as well.
BOX SCORE:
UP 81 — Rivero 19, Lucero 17, Spencer 13, Diouf 10, Tamayo 10, Cagulangan 4, Alarcon 4, Abadiano 4, Fortea 0, Ramos 0.
ATENEO 74 — Kouame 18, Belangel 17, Verano 17, Mamuyac 7, Ildefonso 6, Andrade 3, Chiu 2, Koon 2, Daves 2, Tio 0, Padrigao 0.
Quarterscores: 17-19, 32-31, 49-54, 70-70, 81-74./PN
