The UP Fighting Maroons swept their doubleheader against De La Salle University (DLSU) in the University Athletic Association Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 basketball tournament.
The UP Women’s Basketball Team (UPWBT) turned back the Lady Archers, 63–58, while the UP Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) held off a late rally by the Green Archers, 80–76, to complete the twin victories last Oct. 11 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The UPWBT, led by Louna Ozar and Camille Nolasco, started strong and was leading by nine points, 37-29, going into the second half of the game.
With the UP Fighting Maroons still ahead, 46-37, the Lady Archers threatened a comeback via a 9-2 blitz that pulled them within two, 48-46, with less than a minute in the third frame. With time winding down, Kaye Pesquera drained a three-pointer just before the third quarter buzzer, restoring UP Fighting Maroons’ five-point lead, 51-46, heading into the final period.
Nolasco then waxed hot, draining back-to-back three-pointers, stretching UPWBT’s lead to 10 points, 63-53. The UP Fighting Maroons then weathered the more than six-minute scoring drought by clamping down on defense, forcing turnovers and tough shots to hold off the Lady Archers and seal the win.
Ozar led the UP Fighting Maroons with 20 points, three rebounds, and four steals. Nolasco contributed 16 points, while Blessing Francis had a double-double performance, scoring 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the UPMBT, behind Rey Remogat, Veejay Pre, and Elliot Dimaculangan controlled much of the game and was ahead by 10 points, 63-53, going into the final quarter. Their lead ballooned to 14 points, 67-53, via Pre’s three-point shot at the 8:44 mark of the pay-off period.
The Green Archers, however, refused to go without a fight. They rallied to seize the lead late in the game, with Jacob Cortez drilling a three-pointer to put the Green Archers ahead for the first time, 73-72, with 2:43 left to play.
Dikachi Ududo split his free throws before Pre’s jumper put UPMBT back on top, 75-73, with 1:33 remaining. The UP Fighting Maroons then pulled away by converting four free throws for a 79-73 lead with 21.5 seconds left. In the ensuing plays, DLSU’s Luis Pablo scored on an and-one putback to put them within three points, but Remogat converted a free throw to seal UPMBT’s win.
Remogat led the UPMBT with 20 points. Pre had superb showing scoring 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Dimaculangan scored 11 points, while Ududo grabbed 10 rebounds and scored five points.
The UPWBT will play against the University of the East Lady Warriors on Oct. 17, 10 a.m. at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, while the UPMBT will face the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Oct. 14, 5:30 p.m. at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
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