The UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) got its University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament campaign off to a strong start, with a 92–85 victory over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers on Sept. 13 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was tight contest between the UPMBT and the Growling Tigers from the get-go, with the latter taking a slight advantage, 48-44, at the end of the second quarter.
Still trailing 53-58 with four minutes left in the third quarter, Veejay Pre, Arvie Poyos, James Payosing, and Sean Alter ignited the Fighting Maroons’ comeback, fueling a surge that put the UPMBT ahead, 66-62, entering the fourth and final quarter.
With the game hanging in the balance, the Fighting Maroons led by Poyos, Francis Nnoruka, Rey Remogat, and Miguel Yñiguez turned up the pressure in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Growling Tigers and secure the win.
Nnoruka led the Fighting Maroons with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Remogat finished with 11 points, seven assists, and two steals; Yñiguez also scored 11 points; while Alter contributed nine points.
UPMBT’s next game, against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, is scheduled for Sept. 19, 5:30 p.m. also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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