Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 9) – Rising star Zav Lucero came out with a career game in leading the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in their 83-76 win over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Lucero finished with his career-high 27 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals to help the Diliman-based dribblers assert their hold on the second spot of the team standings at 6-1 in the final game of the UAAP Season 84 first round eliminations.
Both squads engaged in a tug-of-war battle in the first half, but the Fighting Maroons started to connect their shots in the third quarter with Lucero leading the charge.
In the final period, FEU started to threaten UP’s hold of the lead with Emman Ojuola completing an and-one play to cut the deficit to just one, 69-70, with over two minutes left in the match.
Lucero protected the Maroons’ advantage with a crucial triple in the last 1:50 of the game to get them ahead, 76-70.
The Tamaraws were not ready to surrender as Xyrus Torres nailed a trey and LJ Gonzales split his free-throw shots for a two point deficit, 74-76, under a minute remaining in the contest.
The Goldwin Monteverde-coached UP side became more determined to clinch the victory as his proteges Carl Tamayo and Terrence Fortea scored the crucial buckets in the paint to gain an 80-74 lead.
Maroons star guard Ricci Rivero nailed the dagger three in the dying seconds to seal their sixth straight win in this season, the first time they achieved such feat since 2004.
Tamayo finished with 12 points while Rivero added 10 markers and six rebounds for UP.
Gonzales led FEU with 20 points while Ojuola tallied 17 markers and 13 rebounds as the Tamaraws finished the first half of the season at fifth place with a 3-4 slate.
The Scores:
UP 83 – Lucero 27, Tamayo 12, Rivero 10, Cansino 7, Diouf 7, Fortea 6, Alarcon 5, Cagulangan 4, Abadiano 3, Spencer 2, Lina 0, Catapusan 0.
FEU 76 – Gonzales 20, Ojuola 17, Torres 17, Alforque 9, Abarrientos 8, Sandagon 3, Tempra 2, Sleat 0, Sajonia 0, Bienes 0, Celzo 0.
Quarterscores: 14-18, 31-32, 58-50, 83-76
