In their second-to-last elimination games of Season 88, the University of the Philippines (UP) basketball teams experienced contrasting fortunes Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
While the men’s team maintained its momentum and secured a twice-to-beat advantage after a hard-fought 79-75 win, the women’s squad continues to struggle to regain its early-season form after falling short of a semifinal berth with its devastating 64-98 loss to the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Twice-to-beat in the bag
The UP Men’s Basketball Team (MBT) secured a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four after a tight 79-75 victory over its Katipunan rival.
UP got off to a rocky start, allowing Ateneo to sprint to a double-digit 7-21 lead by the end of the opening frame.
Down by as many as 16 in the second quarter, State U began clawing back into contention, with combined efforts from Reyland Torres, Rey Remogat and the rest of the backcourt, trimming the deficit to 29-38 by halftime.
The third frame witnessed a push and pull between both teams, as they traded baskets and momentum. Ateneo remained competitive, but UP’s defensive rotation began to force contested shots.
Jacob Bayla and Sean Alter gave the Fighting Maroons a boost late in the third period with a seven-point run to bring the deficit within three, 48-51.
“‘Pag may player na gumawa [ng katulad] nila Jacob [at] Sean na nag-start ng spark at ng ganoong klaseng intensity, very valuable for each team ‘yong gano’n. For me, ‘yong dalawa, […] mula noong first half pa ay binibigay nila lahat,” said head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
UP trailed 48-54 heading into the final stretch but quickly gained momentum, improving play executions on both ends of the court as it set the stage for a high-stakes finish.
Team captain Gerry Abadiano sliced through Ateneo’s defense with his late 16-point outburst in the closing frame, while Francis Nnoruka dominated the boards with rebounds, generating second-chance points for State U.
“Lagi lang sinasabi sa’min ni Coach Gold na ‘wag lang tumigil. Keep on pounding lang,” Abadiano said.“Ang nasa isip lang namin sa team namin is continue lang kami sa paglalaro.”
The Maroons’ backcourt came through with timely jumpers and fast-break points, allowing UP to take the lead and weather Ateneo’s late surge, 79-75.
Abadiano stepped up in the late surge with 18 points and two rebounds, while Nnoruka recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 17 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.
On the flipside, Jared Bahay led the Blue Eagles with 21 points, two rebounds and three assists.
End of the road
The women’s campaign took a sharp turn of its own as its Final Four hopes vanished after a tough late-day matchup against Ateneo.
The UP Women’s Basketball Team (WBT) is officially out of contention for a Final Four spot after falling short in the Battle of Katipunan against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 68-94, in a later game at the same venue.
Both teams traded baskets early in the highly contested opening frame with two deadlocks and four lead changes.
Eager to extend their season and get the upper hand early, the Fighting Maroons took the lead off an Alex Mendoza basket with 23 seconds left on the clock. However, Ateneo reclaimed the advantage after Kacey Dela Rosa’s late triple, putting them ahead by two, 16-18.
With only two points behind, the Diliman-based squad steadied its pace in the second frame, matching Ateneo’s blow-for-blow with 20 points apiece, keeping the blue and white jerseys within reach, 36-38, by halftime.
The Maroon jerseys struggled offensively in the third quarter as the Blue Eagles dominated both ends of the court, scoring 28 points compared to the Fighting Maroons’ 12.
Heading into the final frame, Ateneo’s lead ballooned to 18 points, 48-66, as UP only managed to convert points from five successful field goals out of its 17 total attempts.
Mainstays Camille Nolasco and Louna Ozar went hand in hand in the last minutes, mounting a final push to extend their season, with each basket coming off the other’s rebounds and setups.
Despite the late hustle, Ateneo’s advantage proved insurmountable for the Fighting Maroons, who ultimately bowed out of contention for a Final Four spot as the clock expired.
Gilas Pilipinas teammates Nolasco and Ozar led the Fighting Maroons’ scoring efforts with a combined 33 points, while Maw chipped in 10 markers.
On the Katipunan side, two-time MVP Kacey Dela Rosa headed the Blue Eagles’ march to victory with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Erica De Luna and Sarah Makanjuola contributed 16 and 12 markers, respectively.
As the elimination rounds conclude, the men’s team will look to sweep the second round with its matchup against the De La Salle University Green Archers, while the women’s squad will aim to close out its campaign on a strong note Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
