Already assured of a Final Four slot, the UP Fighting Maroons continue their quests for a twice-to-beat advantage as they absorb split results in their respective matches in the UAAP Season 86 Basketball Tournaments at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Led by former UAAP Jrs. Mythical Five member Aldous Torculas and freshman standout Favour Onoh, the UP Men’s Basketball Team (UP MBT) maintains their place atop the standings while the UP Women’s Basketball Team (UP WBT) holds a strong 9-3 record in second spot.
All-around performance
The UP MBT continued their winning ways as they trounced the FEU Tamaraws off the Final Four race, 81-64, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
It was an all-around performance for homegrown sophomore Torculas, who led the Fighting Maroons to their 10th win of the season.
Former UPIS Jr. Fighting Maroon Aldous Torculas launches for a jumper against FEU’s defender Aeron Bagunu. Photo by the UAAP Media Team
The 6-foot-4 forward delivered timely baskets and crucial runs for UP, leading to his career-high record of 13 points to go with five rebounds and two steals.
“I’m just patient, I’m just doing my role sa team,” said Torculas when asked about his performance during the post-game interview.
While the Fighting Maroons gained an early 12-2 advantage in the opening frame, the Tamaraws immediately countered as Jorick Bautista led an offensive surge early in the second quarter, 16-17, forcing UP into a timeout.
A triple delivered by Torculas snapped FEU’s momentum and shifted the pace on the side of the Maroons. Following the go-ahead baskets from Chicco Briones and JD Cagulangan, UP built a 7-point lead, 34-27, closing the first half.
State U opened the third quarter with back-to-back triples from Harold Alarcon to push the lead into double-digits.
Although FEU’s Pat Sleat tried to energize a late rally with a slam over Sean Alter at the start of the final frame, UP’s offense proved too much to handle as the Maroons closed the game with a 17-point cushion.
Aside from Torculas, Alarcon and Briones also chipped in 11 and 9 markers respectively to add to UP’s second-highest bench points tally of the season at 54 points.
The Morayta-based squad, on the other hand, banked on the efforts of starters LJ Gonzales and Bautista, who produced 20 and 17 points, respectively.
Despite being on the top of the standings, the UP MBT stays locked in for their last two games of the round to ensure a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis.
“‘Yung destiny namin nasa kamay pa namin ngayon, wala pa kami sa situation na umaasa kami sa iba. So we take care of business in the next two games, then that twice-to-beat is no question na,” UP MBT Assistant Coach Christian Luanzon explained during the post-game interview.
Firm start
Meanwhile, the UP WBT snapped their three-game victory run in the second round as they faltered on their strong start against the DLSU Lady Archers, 71-75, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Despite their loss to the fifth-seeded Archers, 6-foot-4 center Favour Onoh shone with a double-double performance of 23 points and 24 rebounds.
The first-year standout led the Maroons’ charge and effective ball distribution from the get-go to secure an early 8-point cushion in the first quarter, 24-16, their biggest lead of the game.
But just when the maroon shirts were heating up to extend their 27-25 lead in the second salvo, DLSU’s Bea Dalisay launched from behind the arc to steal the lead.
The tides stayed in favor of the Lady Archers as they drained another trey courtesy of Luisa Dela Paz, but Filipino-French standout Louna Ozar was also quick to counter with her own 3-pointer to keep the green shirts in close distance, 32-31.
Ozar then pulled a no-look assist to Rhea Sanchez from the corner for an extended 35-33 lead for UP.
However, State U eventually trailed behind as DLSU shrugged off the maroon efforts to snatch the lead back and close the half at 37-40.
UP playmaker Kaye Pesquera’s early efforts in the third frame edged out the Lady Archers, 41-40.
After making one out of two free throws, Onoh led another surge for UP with 9 consecutive markers to neutralize the Lady Archers’ feisty stride, capping off the third quarter at 59-62.
Onoh kicked off the deciding frame with a bucket to trim the deficit by 1, but both teams found themselves staring at a 66-all deadlock with 4 minutes and 53 seconds left in the game.
The Diliman-based squad struggled on both ends of the court, sealing their last point at 71 off an Onoh basket, ultimately handing DLSU a crucial win to stay in the Final Four race.
Apart from Onoh, Archissa Maw also stepped up for State U notching 11 markers and eight boards to add to Marielle Vingno’s 9 points.
Meanwhile, Lee Sario lifted DLSU with a double-double performance of 19 points and 12 rebounds to avenge their first-round loss against UP.
The UP Fighting Maroons look to bag pivotal victories for their next game on Wednesday, Nov. 15, where the UP MBT will face the UST Growling Tigers at the Mall of Asia Arena to ensure a twice-to-beat advantage.
Meanwhile, the UP WBT will aim to inch closer to a twice-to-beat edge of their own as they face the winless UE Lady Warriors at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
UP MBT QUARTER SCORES: 16-13, 34-27, 60-47, 81-64
UP WBT QUARTER SCORES: 24-16, 37-40, 59-62, 71-75
