UP re-asserts mastery over Ateneo in UAAP clash

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons repeated its mastery over the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles to edge them in overtime, 76-71, in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.

After three-quarters of slugfest, the rematch of the UAAP Season 84 grand finals all went to the wire in the final canto but it was UP who took the lead midway to the fourth.

The trio of Malick Diouf, Carl Tamayo, and Terrence Fortea torched the Blue Eagles during the crucial stretch but Forthsky Padrigao and Dave Ildefonso answered back with a 7-0 scoring burst to tie the game at 64-all with 36 seconds left.

UP had the chance to retake the lead but Tamayo committed a costly turnover that rewarded the Blue Eagles with the last possession.

Head coach Tab Baldwin then drew a play to free up Padrigao but the young point guard miss the shot from downtown.

During the extra five minutes, it was all UP as Ateneo failed to steal the lead when Tamayo immediately imposed his will underneath to give the Fighting Maroons a 66-64 lead.

Padrigao would come right back with a floater shot to deadlock the game but that would be Ateneo’s only made field goal for the next three minutes.

Tamayo gave the Fighting Maroons a five-point lead after splitting his shots in the charity stripe, 71-66, while Diouf called game after making both of his free throws that protected their lead.

“I believe that we played better as a team. We moved the ball well, we really tried to work on especially ‘yung offense namin,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde.

Tamayo was a man on a mission and dropped another double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds while shooting guard James Spencer had 14 points and six rebounds.

After missing the first four games due to an injury, JD Cagulangan finally made his Season 85 debut and finished with seven points, seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals.

With the win, the Fighting Maroons rose to 4-1 and shared the no. 1 spot with the National University (NU) Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles dropped its second game of the season and fell to 3-2 together with De La Salle University and the University of the East.