MANILA – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons denied Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles an outright finals seat in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball via a 84-83 beating at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Ricci Rivero drained two pressure packed free throws with 22 seconds left on Sunday as the Fighting Maroons handed the Blue Eagles its first defeat in 1,299 days.
This is the Blue Eagles’ first loss since Oct. 10, 2018 when they bowed to the Far Eastern University, 63-60. They’ve won 39 straight games prior to the close loss.
“Winning against Ateneo siyempre is a big achievement for us,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde. “One thing good for me, ‘yung team namin stayed as team no matter how close the game was.”
Trailing 77-81, Maodo Malick Diouf converted two free throws before James Spencer drilled a top of the key triple to put the Fighting Maroons ahead, 82-81, with 43.6 seconds left.
In the ensuing play, Gian Mamuyac drove to the basket and missed but Dave Ildefonso was there for the offensive board and the lay-in to regain the lead for the Blue Eagles at 83-82.
Off a timeout, Rivero converted two free throws from a foul by Mamuyac to give UP an 84-83 edge. Bacolodnon Samjosef Belangel tried to win it for Ateneo but misfired his triple try.
Diouf finished with 18 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block, while Carl Tamayo and Spencer added 16 and 12 points, respectively, for the Fighting Maroons.
Crispin John Cansino, who already had 11 points at the time, was stretchered out of the court with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter after a collision mid-air that saw him suffer a dislocated patella.
Angelo Kouame led the Blue Eagles with double-double of 21 points and 17 rebounds, Dave Ildefonso chimed in 18 points and seven rebounds, while Belangel added 11 points.
Due to UP’s win, a traditional Final Four will start on Wednesday with the Blue Eagles (13-1) facing no. 4 Far Eastern University at 6 pm.(7-7) and UP (12-2) battling no. 3 De La Salle University at 2 pm.(9-5).
The top two seeds will have a twice-to-beat advantage.
BOX SCORE:
UP 84 – Diouf 18, Tamayo 16, Spencer 12, Cansino 11, Lucero 9, Rivero 8, Cagulangan 7, Fortea 3, Alarcon 0, Webb 0, Lina 0.
ATENEO 83 – Kouame 21, Ildefonso 18, Belangel 11, Andrade 10, Verano 7, Tio 6, Koon 5, Lazaro 2, Mendoza 2, Chiu 1, Mamuyac 0.
Quarterscores: 27-13, 50-44, 70-67, 84-83./PN
