UP rookie Francis Lopez hangs on the rim throughout Recreation 1 of the UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball Finals in opposition to La Salle.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines — Banking on expertise, College of the Philippines turned the UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball Finals into its personal playground after dominating La Salle, 97-67, within the title opener on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Enviornment.
The Preventing Maroons, who’re of their third straight Finals, pulled away within the third quarter behind Francis Lopez and Harold Alarcon, who mixed for 17 factors.
UP doubled its halftime lead after a CJ Cansino triple made it, 77-53, with lower than two minutes left within the pivotal third interval. The Maroons by no means seemed again with sophomore Aldous Torculas energizing the group with a putback slam to stretch the result in 25 factors, 81-65, early within the fourth earlier than Terrence Fortea hit a triple to tally the most important margin at 30 with 1:18 to go.
The Maroons, final 12 months’s runner-up, attempt to reclaim the crown in Recreation 2 on Sunday, 2 p.m., at Good Araneta Coliseum.
UP’s Reyland Torres and Harold Alarcon.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
Alarcon confirmed the best way with 21 factors, whereas Lopez, who will obtain the Rookie of the 12 months award earlier than Recreation 2 tip-off, made a formidable Finals debut with 15 factors and 11 rebounds to steer probably the most lopsided Recreation 1 within the Last 4 period.
However Alarcon, who was a part of the final two Finals, insists to his workforce that the job isn’t carried out as of their first two championship spherical appearances, they gained Recreation 1 however had been pressured to rubber match in each seasons.
“Siguro masasabi ko lang parang hindi pa ito yung pwede magsaya. Hindi pa tapos yung laban siguro after nito magfocus na kami sa subsequent recreation,” Alarcon mentioned.
JD Cagulangan was additionally instrumental with 11 factors together with a buzzer-beating three to finish the primary half that gave UP a 53-41 lead that set the tempo for his or her second-half demolition. Gerry Abadiano contributed 10 factors, whereas Torculas and Malick Diof chipped in 9 factors every and mixed for 25 rebounds.
UP ended La Salle’s nine-game successful streak with its hermetic protection limiting the latter to a 2-of-23 three-point capturing and forcing 18 turnovers to attain 24 factors off it.
“Properly, I suppose iyong workforce actually na-eexecute nila iyong recreation plan some time in the past and protection was actually nice,” mentioned UP coach Goldwin Monteverde. “We simply need to maintain and know that the Finals is not going to be one recreation however it’s a collection so tapat– we simply need to proper now know what to work on and be prepared for the subsequent recreation.”
La Salle obtained dominated in its first Finals recreation in six years with newly-minted MVP Kevin Quiambao restricted to 11 factors on 4-of-10 capturing to go along with six rebounds and three assists.
Mike Phillips carried the Inexperienced Archers with 19 factors and 9 rebounds. Eban Nelle additionally struggled with eight factors on 4-of-13 capturing.
The Scores:
UP (97) — Alarcon 21, Lopez 15, Cagulangan 11, Abadiano 10, Torculas 9, Diouf 9, Cansino 5, Belmonte 5, Fortea 5, Felicilda 4, Pablo 3, Briones 0, Torres 0, Alter 0, Gagate 0.
DLSU (67) — M. Phillips 19, Quiambao 11, Nelle 8, Austria 6, Nonoy 5, Cortez 4, Gollena 4, Escandor 3, David 2, Policarpio 2, Abadam 2, Manuel 1, B. Phillips 0, Macalalag 0, Nwankwo 0.
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Quarterscores: 28-24, 53-41, 77-55, 97-67