by John Reczon Calay
The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons suffers its first loss in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tourney after facing the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 59-67, September 13, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Tigers is now in a 17-game winning streak against the Maroons. With this victory, they now lead the league standings with a 3-0 card.
The España-based squad trembled the Diliman-based team with a 0-6 run in the 1:23 mark of the first quarter. The Maroons were limited to only four points in this canto, which came from a Jarrell Lim basket and a Cheick Kone buzzer-beating jam.
Captain ball JR Gallarza tries to revive UP’s idle offense and motivate the team as he fired a trey in the final seconds of the second quarter. Diego Dario sinks in two charity shots to lessen the Tigers’ lead after the first half to six, 15-21.
Jett Manuel opened the third canto with a trey for UP then followed by a Kone basket, continuing a 10-0 run which began after that Gallarza trey in the second. This trimmed UST’s lead to one, 20-21.
Manuel, who scored three triples out of six attempts, snatched the lead for a while for UP, 27-25 in the 6:05 mark of the third quarter.
The Maroons try to seize the game but were lost in the final canto as they were crushed by the combined offense powers of Ed Daquioag and Kevin Ferrer who contributed 43 out of 67 points for UST. In the end UST prevails over UP, 59-67.
Dario leads UP as he chipped in 15 points and four rebounds, followed by Desiderio with 12 points and seven rebounds. UP registered 28 in perimeter shooting.
Daquioag spearheaded UST with 27 points and six boards. Ferrer contributed a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards. UST made 20 points from UP’s 20 turnovers.
“Sorry for losing the game earlier. It’s time to move on and learn from the mistakes. We’ll make it up to the next games,” Desiderio tweeted regarding today’s outcome.
UP will next face the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws on Sunday, September 20, 4 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Both teams are seeking for a third win as they are tied in the league’s second place with a 2-1 tally.
SCORES:
MAROONS (59) – Dario 15, Desiderio 12, Manuel 9, Kone 6, Gallarza 5, Moralde 4, Vito 3, Juruena 3, Lim 2.
TIGERS (67) – Daquioag 27, Ferrer 16, Abdul 8, Vigil 4, Subido 4, Bonleon 3, Lee 3, Sheriff 2.
QUARTERSCORES: 4-10, 15-21, 40-42, 59-67