By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
AFTER two decades the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are back in the Final Four of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines after defeating the De La Salle Green Archers, 97-81, in their all-important match on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Bent on ending years of futility right at the onset of the match, the Maroons took advantage of every opportunity they got, going on a fast start and never letting go of the gas pedal to stay ahead of the Archers the rest of the way to book the historic win.
The win improved UP to 8-6, good for joint third with La Salle. But since the Maroons have a better quotient than the Archers they edged out the latter for number three.
It marked the first time that the Diliman-based team booked a place in the semifinals of the UAAP since 1997.
The contest was tight early on before Aljun Melecio jolted the Archers to a mini-run to hold a 12-8 advantage in the opening five minutes of the first quarter.
Javi and Juan Gomez De Liano though would spark a 14-4 UP run after to overtake the Archers, 22-16, inside one minute.
The Maroons stayed ahead, 25-17, after the first 10 minutes.
UP kept pouring it at the start of the second quarter, outscoring La Salle, 7-2, to extend its lead to 13 points, 32-19, by the 6:55 mark.
The Archers tried to shoot their way back but Juan Gomez De Liano and Bright Akhuetie kept the Maroons at a safe distance.
The count stood at 44-27 for UP with three minutes left and the Maroons would maintain control thereafter with a 52-29 advantage by the halftime break.
Recognizing they allowed their opponents much leeway in the opening half, the Archers came out more aggressive in the third period.
Back-to-back baskets by Justine Baltazar pushed La Salle closer, 52-33.
But UP’s Janjan Jaboneta and Jun Manzon scored seven straight points after to pull the Maroons away anew, 59-38, with a little over seven minutes remaining.
From there La Salle made attempts to overhaul UP’s lead, behind Andrei Caracut, but had little success as the Maroons continued to hold sway, 75-54, entering the final canto.
On the ropes to start the fourth period, the Archers scrambled to make things happen.
They cut their deficit to 16 points, 75-59, with eight minutes to go.
But that was the closest they would get as the Maroons continuously found ways to frustrate them.
UP held a 92-74 lead with two minutes left and it would move to park the victory after.
Juan Gomez De Liano led UP with 27 points with brother Javi adding 19.
Akhuetie finished with 16 points and 20 rebounds.
La Salle was led by Baltazar with 22 points and Melecio 19.
“I did not expect the kind of response from my players but I’m very happy with the win. Happy for the community,” said UP coach Bo Perasol postmatch.
The Archers now await the game between Far Eastern University and Adamson University on Nov. 18. An FEU win forces a playoff between it and La Salle for number four.
SEVENTH STRAIGHT WIN
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles won their seven straight game to finish the elimination round with a 12-2 record, on top of the standings.
The Eagles feasted on the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 102-62, in a game that the former dominated from the start.
Ateneo, which played sans head coach Tab Baldwin who was undergoing medical tests, jump-started things with a 16-2 run in the first five minutes of the opening quarter and never looked back after.
Ange Kouame led Ateneo with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Will Navarro had 15 points and nine boards while Jolo Mendoza and Bryan Andrade each had nine points for the Eagles, who are the top seeds in the Final Four and will face the number four team.
For UST it was Renzo Subido who top-scored with 18 point with Tobi Agustin adding 15 and Joshua Marcos 13.
“We just wanted to finish the elimination round strong. We played as a team and just stayed aggressive,” said Navarro after the game.
The loss was the fourth in a row for UST, which finished their campaign in Season 81 with a 5-9 card, good for sixth place.