by John Reczon Calay
Did UP win today? Yes.
The UP Fighting Maroons trounced the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 62-55, in the opening game of the 78th season of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament on September 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Maroons last defeated the Warriors in the second round elimination of UAAP Season 75, in 2012. It has been four years since the Maroons won a season-opener match.
Both teams struggled to score in the first quarter, as the 11-7 tally came mostly from penalty shots. However, UP expanded this four-point lead into a 13-point margin in the second quarter, 22-9, when Agustini Amar delivered a jumper to gain momentum.
UE’s Emil Palma was sent back to the bench in the early minutes of the third quarter due to a slight head injury. The Maroons did not allow the Warriors to lead any quarter as they owned the third, 45-37.
UE opened the final canto with a Christopher Javier three-pointer to cut down the lead to four, 45-41. Gelo Vito, who leads the UP scoreboard with 11 points, answered and fired three consecutive treys with 4:37 left in the final canto to regain its double digit lead, 56-43.
Warrior rookie Batiller chipped in 17 points and 7 boards, together with Christopher Javier’s 10 points to lead the UE scoreboard but these were not enough to seize a lead.
The UP Maroons have a “never say die” attitude, said new head coach and former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Rensy Bajar. “I always tell them that they can win and they are winners,” he said.
This victory is a good start for the Maroons’ basketball campaign as they try to wipe off the team’s reputation as cellar-dwellers in the tourney. “Napakasarap sa feeling na ganito na yung naging resulta sa first game namin,” Bajar said.
The Maroons will next face the De La Salle University (DLSU) Archers this Wednesday, September 9, 2 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
SCORES:
MAROONS (62) – Vito 11, Moralde 8, Desiderio 7, Manuel 7, Dario 6, Prado 6, Amar 4, Longa 4, Asilum 3, Kone 3, Juruena 2, Gallarza, 1
WARRIORS (55) – Batiller 17, Javier 10, Palma 6, Manalang 5, De Leon 4, Abanto 4, Charcos 2, Gagate 2, Yu 2, Sta. Ana 2, Varilla 1
QUARTERSCORES: 11-7, 29-25, 45-37, 62-55