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◢ Juan Gregorio Lina
The UP Fighting Maroons bounced back from Wednesday’s blowout loss against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, coming away with a decisive 84-71 victory against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, in the men’s basketball tournament of the University Athletic Association (UAAP) Season 80 held today at the Araneta Coliseum.
Paul Desiderio led UP in scoring, dropping a career-high 28 points at a hot 56% shooting clip while also notching 10 boards, an assist, and a steal.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Ouatarra contributed 14 points, 10 boards, and 2 rejections, with point guard June Manzo recording 11 points, 3 assists and a steal.
UE’s Clark Derige led his team with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals, while teammate Mark Maloles added 16 points, an assist, and a steal.
UP got off to a slow start, with UE jumping out to an early 9-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Maroons were able to trim the deficit down to 4 by the half’s end.
By the third, however, the Maroons came out swinging, draining 26 points—12 of which coming from four Desiderio treys—while holding UE to just 7 points.
At the final quarter, the lead ballooned to as high as 23 as UP maintained momentum, overcoming a 22-point outburst from the Red Warriors.
With the win, the Fighting Maroons improve to a 2-1 record while UE has yet to tally a victory.
UP’s next game will be on Saturday, September 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena, where they will face off against the De La Salle Green Archers. ◢
QUARTER SCORES: 18-27, 38-42, 64-49, 84-71
UP 84: Desiderio 28, Quattara 14, Manzo 10, Javier Gomez de Liaño 9, Juan Gomez de Liaño 7, Prado 7, Lim 4, Lao 3, Webb 2
UE 71: Derige 21, Maloles 16, Pasaol 12, Olayon 11, Manalang 8, Cullar 3
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