Metro Manila, Philippines – The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons escaped the gritty Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 69-67, in Round 1 of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Despite trailing for most of the match, the one-two punch of Veejay Pre and Dikachi Ududo steered the Fighting Maroons to a 24-12 comeback in the last quarter to clinch back-to-back wins.
The victory put UP atop the standings at 4-2 with Far Eastern University and National University.
Meanwhile, the Soaring Falcons dropped to a 3-3 slate and tied with De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University and University of Santo Tomas.
Team captain Rey Remogat led his squad to victory with 14 points and six assists. Pre chipped in 12 points and 10 boards, while Ududo added 13 in a 6-of-9 field goal shooting.
The Katipunan-based squad fired from all cylinders in the opener but Adamson was quick to respond in the second frame, powered by Mat Edding’s personal 6-0 run that allowed them to take control, 35-31.
The Soaring Falcons banked on five three-pointers to outscore UP, 25-12, in the second quarter.
Timely buckets from Precious Jonah kept Adamson ahead by 10 points as Remogat kept UP alive by the end of the third quarter, 55-45.
Ududo and Pre led the massive 17-5 blitz that put UP back in the game in the last frame. Momentum swung in favor of the Katipunan-based squad in the dying minutes as Adamson fell short in their comeback.
Mat Edding paced the loss with 15 points, while Jonah scored 11 markers.
The Fighting Maroons will seek to extend their win streak to three as they end the first round against the winless University of the East Red Warriors on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
Meanwhile, a tougher challenge awaits the Soaring Falcons when they face reigning champions De La Salle University Green Archers on Sunday, Oct. 18, at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
NewsWatch Plus intern Jade Bagas contributed to this report.
The scores:
UP (69) — Remogat 14, Ududo 13, Pre 12, Yñiguez 11, Stevens 6, Maga 5, Payosing 4, Dimaculangan 4, Bayla 0, Ogana 0, Alter 0, Briones 0
Adamson (67) — Edding 15, Jonah 11, Erolon 10, Montebon 10, Torres 7, Medina 6, Anabo 5, Cañete 3, Mangaron 0, Demisina 0, Tumaneng 0, Perez 0
Quarterscores: 19-10, 31-35, 45-55, 69-67
