The University of the Philippines (UP) Men’s Basketball Team (MBT) kicked off the second round hot, escaping the claws of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in a 103-101 double-overtime victory on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite emerging victorious in the thriller, the team once again relied on late-game hot streaks to extend its chances in the fierce showdown.
Head coach Goldwin Monteverde lauded the team’s heart in battling through the extended periods while also acknowledging that the game served as a learning experience for his players.
“‘Pag double overtime, [puso] na ang [pinag-uusapan] eh, [s]eeing them fighting through the end. [G]oing through sa ganitong klase[ng] game would be a learning experience for the team,” the UP shotcaller said in the post-game press conference.
Extended chase
Maroon forward Veejay Pre got State U off to a promising start, immediately pouring in 14 points in the opening quarter to help the Fighting Maroons edge ahead, 26-24.
The España-based squad took control in the second, opening the quarter with an 8-2 run and outscoring UP’s 21-point output with 25 markers. Mark Llemit’s 12-point production propelled the Growling Tigers to steal the lead in their favor, 47-49, by halftime.
UP struggled offensively in the third, allowing the yellow shirts to pull away by seven heading into the payoff period, 65-72, this time with UST’s rookie Kirk Cañete leading the charge.
Eyeing another late-game turnaround, State U finally regained its offensive prowess, with co-captain Rey Remogat converting back-to-back baskets to tie the game at 72-all.
Assisted by Remogat, Jacob Bayla extended the Diliman-based squad’s lead to five with 38 seconds left on the clock, but Cañete trimmed UST’s deficit to just two, 86-84, following a crucial foul from big man Dikachi Ududo.
With the game hanging in balance, Akowe then hustled for a jumper in the dying seconds to send the match into overtime.
Both squads went neck and neck in extended play and matched each other’s 10-point output. Miguel Yniguez sank two crucial shots from the charity stripe for the maroon shirts, 96-96, to push for another five minutes of play.
Eager to seal the win for Diliman, Pre showed no signs of fatigue, scoring all seven of UP’s second overtime points to secure the nail-biting win.
“Siyempre, masaya kami kasi [‘yong] collective effort namin [ay] nagbunga. [S]a tiwala nila [coaches] sa akin, sinusuklian ko lang,” Pre shared in the post-game press conference.
Pre dropped an all-around, double-double performance of 30 points and 16 rebounds, along with three assists, four steals and a block. Meanwhile, veteran Chicco Briones chipped in 14 markers.
Meanwhile, Llemit led the Growling Tigers’ scoring efforts with 33 points, followed by Akowe, who contributed 23.
Now holding the provisional top seed, UP MBT will seek to extend its winning streak as it takes on the University of the East Red Warriors on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.
MBT QUARTER SCORES: 26-24, 47-49, 65-72, 86-86, 96-96, 103-101
