New coach but still same result for UP
THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons got off to a hot start only to sputter in the endgame and lose, 63-85, to the La Salle Green Archers in the 76th UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was the same old story that happened on just another day for the beleaguered Maroons, who shot 47 percent from the field in the first half to snatch a 42-35 lead at the turn.
But the Archers took over with a sizzling 14-0 run that spanned the third and fourth periods and never looked back to spoil the coaching debut of UP’s new tactician, Rey Madrid.
In the second game, the National University (NU) Bulldogs won their fourth game in a row after they blasted the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 75-61.
NU is now just half a game away from the first place Far Eastern University after winning its seventh game in 10 games. The Tamaraws are currently at 7-2 (win-loss).
UST fell to its third straight defeat for a 4-5 record in spite of the return of skipper Jeric Teng from a shoulder injury.
The Archers, meanwhile, pushed their record to 6-4 while sending the Maroons to a woeful 0-9 mark.
Forward Jason Perkins had an awesome outing with 19 points and 16 rebounds while guard Almond Vosotros chipped in 16 points and seven assists for La Salle. Norbert Torres added a double-double of his own with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
The Maroons clung to a 56-54 lead late in the third but the Archers finished that stretch with a seven-point binge to take a 61-56 lead to the final canto. Perkins sparked a 9-0 run at the start of the final canto with a three-point play that gave La Salle a 68-56 lead.
Former Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu ace Henry Asilum had 18 points to pace UP.
BOX SCORES
DLSU (85) – Perkins 19, Vosotros 16, N. Torres 16, Teng 12, Van Opstal 7, Revilla 6, Montalbo 5, Tampus 4, T. Torres 0, Salem 0.
UP (63) – Asilum 18, Soyud 11, Marata 11, Wong 6, Lao 6, Harris 4, Desiderio 4, Pascual 3, Suarez 0, Paras 0, Gingerich 0, Gallarza 0, Amar 0.
