The pieces are falling into place.
Two months in. 11 games done. Three elimination round matches left. But despite nearing the tail-end of the qualifiers, the show is just getting started for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
Behind their double win on Nov. 8 against the University of the East (UE) at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion are talents who stood out for the first time this season, proving there is more to State U’s campaign ahead of the Final Four basketball bout.
Alter-ing the tide
Beating the Recto-based squad at 70-61, the UP Men’s Basketball Team (MBT) now stands at solo second place with an 8-3 record.
Coming off a hot start, big man Sean Alter produced 11 points out of his 13 only in the first half, along with six rebounds, two blocks and an assist, making this his breakout game in his collegiate career.
“This is my third season with the team and this is, I think, by far my best game so far. So, I only see myself coming off from here,” the 6-foot-8 center said. “I just used the opportunity that I was given today.”
The trust from the Diliman-based squad’s guards while capitalizing on the plays is what UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon highlighted for Alter’s performance.
“He’s [Alter] had his share of ups and downs all throughout the last three seasons […] But today, obviously, he was ready for it,” said Luanzon. “As soon as he came in, he was [an] instant impact not only on the offensive end but really on the defensive end as well.”
Meanwhile, key player Francis Nnoruka recorded his fourth double-double this season with 16 points and 12 rebounds, along with four blocks, four assists and a steal.
All UP MBT players had their minutes on the court, with Josh Coronel seeing action for the first time in the league, contributing 4 points on a 2-out-of-2 shooting.
Coronel had to sit out from Seasons 86 and 87 due to knee injuries alongside rookie LA Andres.
READ: Defend the throne: Recovering UP MBT players await call-up for Season 88
“The more na lumalalim kami and if you put it in a situation wherein somebody’s injured, sick or in foul trouble in a game, at least games like this will remind us that this player has what it takes or is capable of performing,” Luanzon said.
On the other hand, Tope Lagat and Welo Lingolingo led the effort for the red and white, registering 21 points and 11 markers, respectively.
Set next to face the Adamson (AdU) Soaring Falcons, the Goldwin Monteverde stalwarts are determined to avenge their narrow Round 1 loss against the San Marcelino-based squad and perform at their best moving forward.
“What’s important for us is to continue to build towards the momentum na mayro’n kami ngayon papasok ng Final Four. And obviously, we have that chip on our shoulder na gusto naming makabawi, especially sa Adamson and La Salle,” the assistant coach said.
All right, all Kaye
The UP Women’s Basketball Team (WBT) revived its Final Four aspirations and snapped an eight-game losing streak after blasting the UE Lady Warriors, 81-67.
This also marks the return of veteran Kaye Pesquera, who was sidelined since the start of the season after nursing knee injuries.
Pesquera immediately made her presence felt in the court as she tallied nine points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal in almost 20 minutes of action.
“Iba na kasi ‘yong feeling kapag kasama mo na siya [Pesquera] sa court, nakaka-boost siya ng confidence,” said guard Camille Nolasco, who topscored for State U with 16 points along with four rebounds and three assists.
Pesquera was thrilled in her first game back after being limited to the bench for most of the season, with the hunger to make up for lost time. “Sobrang eager [makabawi]. ‘Yong nangyari sa akin ‘yong injury, ‘yon ‘yong time na nagturo sa akin na ma[g]palakas mentally [at] physically din.”
Head coach Paul Ramos was delighted with the mainstay’s return and her presence as a major boost for the team’s morale, as well as all the players stepping up during this challenging season.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the whole team pa rin. I hope that the growth that [Kaye] mentioned, I hope that we really embrace it now,” he said.
Aside from the guards, co-captain Achrissa Maw also went big with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Louna Ozar stuffed the stat sheets with a near triple-double of 10 markers, nine dimes and eight boards.
Every member of the 13-player roster took the floor against the Recto-based collective, with 10 cagers contributing to the scoring pileup.
On the flipside, Syvil Oñate took the scoring load for the Lady Warriors with 24 points along with four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Rachel Lacayanga also contributed 14 markers.
Head coach Ramos hopes the victory sparks the run they need to catch up in the Final Four race, as well as repeating over the Lady Falcons to surge ahead in the standings.
“Hopefully makakuha na kami ng buwelo from this game. We have three remaining games [at] dikit na dikit ‘yong fourth spot […] so hopefully makakuha pa rin kami ng chance na makapasok.”
UP currently sits at the seventh spot with a 3-8 record, with Far Eastern University and AdU at fifth and sixth place, respectively, with identical 4-8 slates while De La Salle University occupies the fourth with 4-6.
The Fighting Maroons now head to the Smart Araneta Coliseum to face off with the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday, with UP MBT hitting the hardcourt at 4:30 p.m. and UP WBT tipping off at 7 p.m.
