Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) — The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons held off a gritty Adamson University Soaring Falcons side, 73-71, Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Zavier Lucero led the charge again for UP with 20 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 33 minutes of action.
Down by seven points with 1:29 left in the fourth quarter, Adamson scored back-to-back baskets to make it a one possession game.
Jerom Lastimosa missed the potential game-winning triple at the buzzer for the Soaring Falcons as the Fighting Maroons chalked up their fourth consecutive victory in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament.
Malick Diouf posted 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for UP while Carl Tamayo chipped in 11 points and five rebounds for the Diliman-based squad.
Lastimosa and Lenda Douanga paced Adamson with 18 points and 16 points, respectively. Keith Zaldivar added 14 markers for the Soaring Falcons who absorbed their third straight loss in five outings.
The Fighting Maroons battle the De La Salle University Green Archers on April 7. Both teams have an identical 4-1 win-loss record.
Adamson, meanwhile, will face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on the same day.
