The University of the Philippines Men’s Basketball Team (UP MBT) drew first blood against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 97-67, to lead the UAAP Season 86 best-of-three Finals Series at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 29.
The Fighting Maroons’ 30-point winning margin set the record for the biggest blowout win made by any team in the UAAP finals since DLSU’s 25-point beating against the Far Eastern University in Season 61.
State U shooting guard Harold Alarcon led the Fighting Maroons’ record-breaking offense as he tallied a game-high 21 points on 6-of-9 field goals.
“Hindi pa pwede magsaya. Hindi pa tapos ‘yung laban. Siguro after nito parang mag-focus na kami sa next game,” Alarcon said during the post-game press conference.
Player of the Game Harold Alarcon in action against the DLSU Green Archers in the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament Finals Game 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Photo by UAAP Season 86
High-flying rookie Francis Lopez also shone with a double-double performance of 15 markers and 11 boards to add to JD Cagulangan’s 11 points.
It was an action-packed opening frame for both teams until the Fighting Maroons pulled away with back-to-back threes from rookie Mark Belmonte and team skipper CJ Cansino for a 29-24 lead to enter the second quarter.
Cagulangan, meanwhile, built up a strong 12-point margin after a signature buzzer-beater trey to end the first half, 53-41.
Led by Lopez’s 9-point output in the third frame, the maroon shirts kept their balance to establish a winning edge on both ends of the court by limiting DLSU’s quarter production at 14 points against State U’s 24.
La Salle managed to stage a fightback in the final quarter with an 8-4 surge, but it quickly fizzled out as State U restored order with a 9-2 run to keep their lead at 92-67.
From hereon, the Fighting Maroons sustained their hefty defense that left the Archers struggling to secure any baskets in the last 2 minutes of the game.
UP sharpshooter Terrence Fortea then iced the match in the final minutes after drilling a shot beyond the arc that extended the cushion to 30 points.
During the post-game interview, UP MBT Head Coach Goldwin Monteverde highlighted the team’s well-executed game plan and defense.
“We just have to sustain and know that the Finals will not be won with one game, but it’s a series. Dapat we have to know what to work on and be ready for the next game,” Monteverde said.
State U will gear up for the Game 2 showdown on Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in the pursuit to reclaim the UAAP title.
QUARTER SCORES: 29-24, 53-41, 77-55, 97-67