UAAP: UP bounces back at NU’s expense

The University of the Philippines bounced back in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament with a 78-74 win over National University on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Harold Alarcon led the Fighting Maroons with a season-high 24 points, powering the team to victory after their previous loss to De La Salle University.

The Diliman-based squad stormed to an early 22-4 lead in the first quarter, but NU gradually clawed their way back into the game.

Tebol Garcia trimmed the deficit to six, 69-66, with a basket at the 2:35 mark of the final period. However, UP responded with a 5-0 run to extend the lead to 74-66.

Jake Figueroa answered with a personal 4-0 run, hitting a field goal and two free throws after a Jacob Bayla foul, but Alarcon’s free throws off a Figueroa foul pushed UP ahead, 76-70.

Steve Nash Enriquez gave NU a glimmer of hope with a basket to cut the lead to 76-72 with four seconds left, but Alarcon once again delivered at the line, sinking two more free throws off a Gelo Santiago foul. Jolo Manansala scored a final basket, but it was too late to alter the outcome.

Aside from Alarcon, Rey Remogat added 11 points, while Reyland Torres chipped in 10 as UP improved to 5-3.

Figueroa paced the Bulldogs with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, along with six assists, two blocks, and a steal. Paul Francisco and PJ Palacielo added 13 and 11 points, respectively, as NU suffered its second loss of the season and slipped to 6-2.

Scores:

UP 78 – Alarcon 24, Remogat 11, Torres 10, Stevens 7, Fortea 6, Bayla 6, Nnoruka 5, Abadiano 4, Palanca 3, Belmonte 2, Alter 0, Yniguez 0.

NU 74 – Figueroa 18, Francisco 13, Palacielo 11, Parks 7, Manansala 6, John 5, Santiago 4, Garcia 4, Padrones 4, Enriquez 2, Dela Cruz 0, Reyes 0, Solomon 0.

Quarters: 22-6, 41-29, 56-50, 78-74.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News