UAAP: UP completes 22-point comeback against Adamson for 5th straight win

UP’s Harold Alarcon. Photo from UAAP Media 

MANILA (UPDATED) — The University of the Philippines flexed its prowess on Adamson University to remain perfect in UAAP Season 87.

The Fighting Maroons improved to 5-0 in the men's basketball tournament after they turned back the Soaring Falcons, 69-57, during their clash on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Harold Alarcon led the Diliman-based team with 14 points, eight rebounds, and a block, Terrence Fortea was hailed as the best player with 13 markers, five boards, two steals, and a dime, while Quentin Millora-Brown was solid again for UP, putting up an 11-point, 14-rebound game. 

After firing blanks in the first 15 minutes of action and facing a 31-9 lead, State U woke up and went back to form and went on a 25-to-2 run in between the second and third periods for a 34 to 33 lead after a basket from JD Cagulangan in the third frame's 7:47 mark.

Despite their abysmal showing in the first half, however, UP coach Goldwin Monteverde maintained that it was not a matter of having consistency. 

UP’s Janjan Felicilda. Photo from UAAP Media

"Kami kasi, even sa practices namin would always remind ourselves to always give our best," he said after the game. "As I said, nasa early part pa lang tayo ng tournament, maybe that's something to be complacent about. But then, siyempre, alam natin imperfect yung laro. Sometimes, yung intensity is lacking but it doesn't mean naman we're complacent. It's just that we need to remind each other na every time to be able to give our best," he added.

They indeed increased their intensity in the second half as UP went on to lead by as much as 15, 65-50, later on after a Janjan Felicilda basket midway through the last quarter. That was all they needed to send the Soaring Falcons crashing to their third loss in six games, and Coach Gold explained that what changed for them was not looking ahead to their future assignments. 

"Sometimes, like I said, games like this would happen. Good thing, composure namin ay andyan, and at least nag-respond kami mabuti," he said. "Pag nasa middle ka ng game, hindi naman namin isipin na baka matalo o baka manalo. We're just always staying in the present. Whatever we need to adjust to as a team."

On the other hand, Monty Montebon and John Calisay both scored 12 points for the San Marcelino-based team, while Matt Erolon followed with eight.

The Scores:

UP 69 – Alarcon 14, Fortea 13, Millora-Brown 11, Cagulangan 9, Lopez 6, Felicilda 4, Bayla 3, Torculas 3, Belmonte 2, Ududo 2, Briones 2, Abadiano 0, Walker 0, Stevens 0.

Adamson 57 – Montebon 12, Calisay 12, Erolon 8, Anabo 6, Ojarikre 6, Fransman 5, Manzano 4, Yerro 2, Mantua 2, Ramos 0, Barasi 0, Ronzone 0.

Quarters: 9-26, 27-33, 51-46, 69-57.

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