Winning Maroons: UP bags inaugural FBA basketball championship

Perennial UAAP cellar dweller University of the Philippines had a successful pre-season after bagging the first Filsports Basketball Association (FBA) championship on Friday.

The Fighting Maroons beat Pampanga Foton Tornadoes, 78-68, in the battle for the title at the Colegio de San Sebastian Gym, Pampanga.

Paul Desiderio led UP with 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Ibrahim Quattara finished with 14 points and 20 rebounds. Diego Dario and Agustini Amar added 12 and 11 markers.

Jerald Bautista topscored for the Tornadoes with 15 points, while Levi Hernandez and Moncrief Rogado combined for 27 points.

Pampanga enjoyed a 12-11 lead in the first quarter, but the Maroons turned the tables in the second, closing the half with a 35-30 margin. The Quezon City-based team then pulled away in the third en route to their victory. -- Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News