MANILA, Philippines – The UP Fighting Maroons sustained their dominance in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament as they handed the NU Bulldogs an 89-62 beating at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, September 18.
The Fighting Maroons showed no mercy to the Bulldogs as they led by as many as 39 points at one juncture of the contest to stay perfect in three games, grabbing a share of the lead with defending champion La Salle Green Archers.
Mark Belmonte spearheaded UP’s onslaught with an efficient performance of 14 points on a near-perfect 6-of-7 field goal clip and a game-high +/- of +29 in only 15 minutes and 11 seconds of play.
Coming off an 81-71 win over the UE Red Warriors in their previous outing, the Fighting Maroons came out with guns blazing as they jumped out to a 29-14 advantage at the end of the opening frame.
By halftime, UP already enjoyed a comfortable 53-26 cushion, led by Belmonte’s 12 first-half points.
UP never looked back in the second half, even pushing its lead to its largest at 39 points, 76-37, off a Harold Alarcon triple with 48 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Jake Figueroa was the lone double-digit scorer for the Bulldogs in their second loss in three matches as he put up 11 points on a lowly 3-of-11 shooting, while Jolo Manansala had a near double-double of 9 markers and 10 rebounds.
Playing minus their foreign student-athlete Mo Diassana — who is out for the rest of the season due to an ACL tear — the Bulldogs got outrebounded by the Fighting Maroons’ heavy frontline, 50-40.
UP also outassisted NU by 10, 22-12, and held the Bulldogs to just 3-of-18 shooting from long distance, compared to its 9-of-27 clip from deep.
The Scores
UP 89 – Belmonte 14, Cagulangan 13, Lopez 8, Millora-Brown 8, Abadiano 7, Ududo 6, Torculas 6, Felicilda 6, Fortea 5, Bayla 4, Alter 4, Alarcon 3, Briones 3, Torres 2, Stevens 0, Walker 0.
NU 62 – Figueroa 11, Manansala 9, Jumamoy 6, Garcia 6, Enriquez 5, Yu 5, Tulabut 4, Francisco 4, Santiago 4, Perciano 4, Padrones 2, Palacielo 2, Parks 0, Dela Cruz 0, Spencer 0.
Quarters: 29-14, 53-26, 76-41, 89-62.
– Rappler.com