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UAAP: UP fends off La Salle, ends 3-game slump

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/09/30/20180930-up-ateneo.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>UP&#x27;s Bright Akhuetie puts up a shot against La Salle. Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATED) University of the Philippines (UP) finally regained its winning ways on Sunday, as the Fighting Maroons fended off De La Salle University, 67-61, at the Mall of Asia Arena.The Fighting Maroons snapped a three-game skid, improving to 2-3 in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament. It was their first win since crushing University of the East, 87-58, in their season-opener.Bright Akhuetie scattered 19 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for UP, while Juan Gomez de Liano had 17 points and 6 assists, including two crucial buckets inside the final two minutes that gave the Maroons the cushion they needed to win.“There is much to be desired with how we ended the game,” admitted UP coach Bo Perasol. “But we can’t forget the fact that we won it. We would have wanted to be better in the end game, but then again, we needed these kinds of wins so we would know how to be better.”<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/09/29/uaap-it-time-make-change-thirdy-ravena-47572">LOOK: How are you liking Thirdy Ravena&#x27;s new look?</a></li></ul>The Fighting Maroons were coming off a brutal loss to Adamson University, where they fell victim to a Sean Manganti game-winner in the final second, squandering a 10-point advantage in the final period.They appeared headed for a comfortable win against the Green Archers after surging to a 61-47 advantage with 7:17 left to play, as the Fighting Maroons opened the final quarter on a 10-2 run.That surge included a dunk from Bright Akhuetie, which brought the UP crowd at the MOA Arena to its feet. Diego Dario capped the run with a pull-up jumper off a full-court pass from Gomez de Liano, prompting a timeout from La Salle.But UP’s offense sputtered in the next five minutes, while the Green Archers scored 13 unanswered points. Veterans Andrei Caracut, Aljun Melecio, and Justine Baltazar starred in La Salle’s rally, with Baltazar’s tip-in making it a one-point game, 61-60, with still 2:30 to go.Gomez de Liano took over at that point, dashing to the rim for a much-needed bucket. It was La Salle’s turn to struggle on offense on the other end, with Baltazar’s triple swirling in-and-out of the hoop, before Santi Santillan blew two lay-ups in succession.That paved the way for Gomez de Liano’s clincher, as he received a pass from Akhuetie and converted the wide-open lay-up to make it a five-point game, 65-60, with 44.3 seconds to go.“I’m just relieved right now that we’re able to get this one,” said Perasol. “I hope we can get back to the winning groove in our next game.”Paul Desiderio scored 12 points for UP, including back-to-back triples in the second quarter that helped the Fighting Maroons stay afloat.With the result, UP improved to 2-3 in the season, while dropping La Salle to 2-2. The Green Archers saw their streak of back-to-back wins come to an end.Baltazar had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds for La alle, while Melecio and Santillan each had 12 points. Neither team shot well from the field, but UP was a shade better at 38.67% to La Salle’s 33.78%.<div>The scores:</div>UP 67 – Akhuetie 19, Gomez de Liano Ju 17, Desiderio 12, Gomez de Liano Ja 7, Manzo 6, Dario 2, Vito 2, Tungcab 2, Spencer 0, Lim 0, Murrell 0, Gozum 0, Jaboneta 0LA SALLE 61 – Baltazar 13, Melecio 12, Santillan 12, Caracut 9, Dyke 8, Go 5, Serrano 2, Bates 0, Manuel 0, Capacio 0, Corteza 0Quarter scores: 13-12, 29-33, 51-45, 67-61For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

(UPDATED) University of the Philippines finally regained its winning ways on Sunday, as the Fighting Maroons fended off De La Salle University, 67-61, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

(UPDATED) University of the Philippines finally regained its winning ways on Sunday, as the Fighting Maroons fended off De La Salle University, 67-61, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

UAAP: UP fends off La Salle, ends 3-game slump

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UAAP: UP fends off La Salle, ends 3-game slump

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 30, 2018 04:07 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 30, 2018 04:52 PM PHT

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UAAP

basketball

UP Fighting Maroons

De La Salle Green Archers

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