The University of the Philippines (UP) guard Harold Alarcon against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final 4. Photo from UAAP Media.

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1732961704792UAAP S87 MBB Final Four - Harold Alarcon-07288.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The University of the Philippines (UP) guard Harold Alarcon against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final 4. Photo from UAAP Media."/>The University of the Philippines (UP) guard Harold Alarcon against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final 4. Photo from UAAP Media.</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — The University of the Philippines (UP) is back in the UAAP men&#x27;s basketball Finals.The Fighting Maroons entered their fourth straight championship stage after they defeated the University of Santo Tomas (UST), 78-69, in their Season 87 Final 4 faceoff on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.Harold Alarcon waxed hot anew, this time in the second half as it was where he tallied 14 of his total 16 points, and he also posted three rebounds and three steals in only 26:17 minutes of gameplay.&quot;Boost ulit ito ng confidence papasok sa Finals,&quot; said Alarcon, who ended the elimination round with a 33-point performance in a win against the University of the East. &quot;Kailangan ko din yun, and kailangan din namin ng team namin yun na parang &#x27;pag may mga ganitong sitwasyon, parang ready lang kami sa mga ibibigay sa &#x27;min ng defense,&quot; he continued. Also contributing to the victory were Francis Lopez (16 points, six rebounds, one block), and Reyland Torres (13 points, seven rebounds), while Quentin Millora-Brown was a tower for the Maroons in his first Final 4 game, collecting nine points together with an eye-popping 19 rebounds and four blocks.But even with these numbers, Alarcon did not discount the fight that the Growling Tigers brought.&quot;Napaganda &#x27;yung laro dahil sa binigay nilang magandang laban. Nakita namin kung paano kami mag-respond sa mga ganung sitwasyon, paano kami naging buo, and nakatulong sa &#x27;min yun papasok sa Finals.&quot;Only leading by six, 72-66, as the Growling Tigers were making a late run, JD Cagulangan hit a crucial jumper at the fourth quarter&#x27;s 1:05 mark to push their lead to eight, 74-66.UST failed to answer in their next possession, while Millora-Brown extended their lead to 10, 76-66, after he converted a lay-in with only 49.1 ticks left.This was eventually all State U needed not only to eliminate the Tigers but also to earn their fifth finals appearance since Season 81. However, Alarcon maintained that the Finals round would be a whole new ball game for them&quot;Expect nothing na lang pero mag pe-prepare kami and magiging ready lang kami for everything na mangyayari sa Finals. Yun nga, masakit yung nangyari sa amin nung dalawang Finals na runners-up, so tingnan na lang natin this season.&quot;Before this, as UP was ahead by four, 62-58, midway through the final canto, Cagulangan and Alarcon made two straight baskets to extend their lead to eight, 66-58.Kyle Paranada answered with a pull-up triple at the 5:29 mark to get UST to within five, 66-61, but Alarcon quickly answered with another pull-up jumper for another seven-point cushion.Unfortunately for the Growling Tigers, adding to their woes was the early exit of Forth Padrigao at the 3:24 mark of the same frame due to his second unsportsmanlike foul.This was called after Padrigao&#x27;s elbow hit Millora-Brown&#x27;s stomach.UST made another attempt by getting as close as six, but that was the nearest that they could get before UP delivered the closing blows.Paranada, Nic Cabañero, and Gelo Crisostomo each had 12 markers for the Pido Jarencio-coached team while Christian Manaytay followed with 10.<div>THE SCORES:</div>UP 78 —  Lopez 16, Alarcon 16, Torres 13, Millora-Brown 9, Fortea 8, Cagulangan 6, Ududo 4, Felicilda 2, Stevens 2, Belmonte 2, Bayla 0, Abadiano 0.UST 69 -– Paranada 12, Cabañero 12, Crisostomo 12, Manaytay 10, Tounkara 8, Padrigao 7, Acido 3, Pangilinan 3, Llemit 2, Estacio 0, Danting 0, Laure 0.Quarterscores: 16-14, 33-35, 57-50, 78-69.<div>RELATED VIDEO: </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bydhLJ5LnZ8??si=7lYF8YuCUpioNDNy&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div><div> </div>

The University of the Philippines (UP) is back in the UAAP men’s basketball Finals for the fourth straight year.

The University of the Philippines (UP) is back in the UAAP men’s basketball Finals for the fourth straight year.

UAAP: Alarcon waxes hot in the second half as UP makes Finals return at UST’s expense

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UAAP: Alarcon waxes hot in the second half as UP makes Finals return at UST’s expense

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 30, 2024 06:19 PM PHT

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Updated Nov 30, 2024 09:07 PM PHT

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