UNIVERSITY of the Philippines snapped a two-game losing streak and dashed Far Eastern University’s Final Four with a 86-78 victory in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre yesterday.

It was a confidence booster for the Fighting Maroons, who have already secured the No. 2 ranking in the Final Four with the twice-to-beat advantage.

Determined to rebound from its defeats to defending champion La Salle and National University, UP played like a Final Four-bound team to hike its record to a 10-3.

With nothing left at stake but simply to bounce back, coach Goldwin Monteverde was satisfied to see the Fighting Maroons respond in their warm-up to the Final Four.

“Everytime naman na may game na ganito and we had to battle it out in the end makes you proud as a coach. Especially coming from dalawang talo, seeing the heart of the players was great,” Monteverde said.

UP aims to end the eliminations on a high note against University of the East on Wednesday at the San Juan arena. Both teams will finally clash after their first two scheduled duels last month were called off due to different circumstances.

The Tamaraws, on the other hand, will miss the Final Four for the third straight season after ending its first year under coach Sean Chambers with a 5-9 card, a two-win improvement from last season’s 3-11 campaign.

FEU’s loss left University of Santo Tomas, UE, and Adamson battling for the remaining two Final Four slots. The Growling Tigers and the Falcons were playing as of press time.

The young Tamaraws had an impressive 4-3 second round, a good sign for the next season that they will contend anew for the Final Four.

Meanwhile, women’s titleholder UST locked up the No. 2 ranking, either in a Final Four or stepladder format, after clobbering Adamson, 60-47.

The Tigresses now hold an 11-2 record despite all the fourth quarter offensive struggles to foil the Lady Falcons avenge their close first round loss.

“We want to see the best nung mga players pa rin. First to fourth quarter hindi kami consistent pero ang silver lining ay ‘yung defense namin, 47 points lang ang nagawa ng Adamson,” said UST coach Haydee Ong.

Tacky Tacatac led the Tigresses with 13 points built around on four three-pointers, while Kent Pastrana delivered 12 points and eight rebounds.

Reigning MVP Kacey Dela Rosa logged her 13th double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds that went along with five blocks and four steals as Final Four-bound Ateneo extended its winning run to four games with a 64-54 conquest of UE, tying Adamson in 8-5 in third place.

In a duel of also-rans, Louna Ozar had a near triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists as UP halted its five-game slide by dominating FEU, 76-61, to join La Salle in fifth place at 4-9.

The scores:

Second game (Women)

UP (76) – Ozar 14, Mendoza 11, Pesquera 10, Jimenez 9, Lozada 8, Nolasco 5, Tapawan 4, Bariquit 4, Maw 4, Sauz 3, Vingno 2, Quinquinio 2, Barba 0, Solitario 0.
FEU (61) – Salvani 21, Dela Torre 12, Pasilang 7, Villanueva 7, Manguiat 4, Lopez 2, Ong 2, Paras 2, Nagma 2, Gavaran 2.
Quarterscores: 18-14. 41-29, 61-45, 76-61

Third game (Women)

UST (60) – Tacatac 13, Pastrana 12, Santos 10, Sierba 7, Bron 6, Soriano 5, Danganan 4, Reliquette 2, Maglupay 1, Ambos 0, Pescador 0.
AdU (47) – Adeshina 14, Etang 9, A. Alaba 6, Limbago 5, Apag 5, Padilla 4, Meniano 2, Ornopia 2, Bajo 0, Mazo 0, Cortez 0, E. Alaba 0, Agojo 0, Manlimos 0.
Quarterscores: 20-12, 30-22, 47-34, 60-47

Fourth game (Men)

UP (86) – Abadiano 19, Cagulangan 12, Lopez 12, Torculas 11, Torres 7, Millora-Brown 7, Fortea 6, Felicilda 3, Alarcon 3, Bayla 2, Stevens 2, Belmonte 2, Briones 0, Ududo 0.
FEU (78) – Bautista 16, Pasaol 16, Pre 16, Konateh 11, Alforque 9, Montemayor 7, Daa 3, Ona 2, Bagunu 0.
Quarterscores: 22-16, 42-39, 67-62, 86-78.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado