The UP Fighting Maroons score another convincing win in the early goings of UAAP Season 87.
The UP Fighting Maroons started strong to overcome the UE Red Warriors, 81-71, for a share of the early lead in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball standings at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, September 14.
Powered by highly-efficient performances from JD Cagulangan and Harold Alarcon, the Fighting Maroons created distance from the get-go.
A total team effort, highlighted by 22 assists, propelled UP head and shoulders above UE at one point in the game, as the Fighting Maroons led by as many as 27 points, 69-42, after Francis Lopez scored on a thunderous slam with 1:50 left in the third canto.
However, UE refused to go down without a fight as Precious Momowei worked to keep his team afloat in the fourth quarter, where the Red Warriors closed the gap to within 10 points, 79-69.
Fortunately for the majority UP crowd inside the Big Dome, the Maroons were able to fend off the Red Warriors’ rally.
Cagulangan continued to lead the charge for UP, finishing with 21 points, highlighted by a 5-of-6 shooting night from beyond the arc. He also contributed seven rebounds and four assists.
Alarcon chipped in with nine points, four rebounds, and two assists. Rookie Jacob Bayla also made his presence felt with seven points, four rebounds, one assist, and one block.
Despite the win, UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon called the game a “teaching moment” for the title contenders.
“Every game is a teaching moment for us. We played well nung first two and a half quarters. The first half, on both ends, our offense was in a good flow, we were shooting the ball well and yung defense din namin. Only allowing them 29 points compared to the 42 in the second half. So, we were able to score 21 nung third [quarter] but allowing 20 [popints] Wala yan sa standard namin defensively.” said Luanzon after the victory.
“But at the same time, tulad ng sinasabi ni coach Gold [Monteverde] lagi, the season, when it starts, every game as it progresses kailangan nagi-improve yung team. Hindi lang during offseason. This is certainly a game na makakatulong din samin moving forward as we try to clean up some stuff.”
Momowei was a thorn in UP's side, leading the Red Warriors with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks in the losing effort.
UP now has a share of the lead at 2-0, tied with idle La Salle and UST. The Red Warriors, meanwhile, are at 0-2.
UP faces an acid test next when the Maroons face the NU Bulldogs on Wednesday, September 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
UE, for its part, chases for its first win against fellow winless team FEU also on Wednesday.