QUENTIN Millora-Brown knew from the very start why the University of the Philippines sought his services.
True enough, he was just what the doctor ordered for the Fighting Maroons.
Millora-Brown, in all of his 6-foot-11 glory, towed UP one game away from fulfilling its wish for redemption, as they fought off La Salle, 73-65, in a tense Game One affair in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball finals Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
QMB came alive in the second half as State U utilized his size down low en route to putting up a career-best 17-point performance, which went along with nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The Fil-American big missed the last meeting between the two teams and made up for his absence by making his presence felt against whomever the Green Archers threw at him - whether Henry Agunnane, Mike Phillips, or Raven Gonzales.
Gerry Abadiano would then take the Iskos home, scoring the last five points, including a backbreaking trey from the left wing with 40.1 seconds remaining to make it a 70-63 affair. He wound up with nine points and seven rebounds.
Francis Lopez also chipped in 13 points, six boards, four blocks, and two assists, as graduating guard JD Cagulangan collected 13 points, four assists, three rebounds, a steal, and a block.
Behind them, UP got an all-important 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, as it hopes to make good on its fourth straight finals after having lost the last two. Game Two is set for Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Soon-to-be-named back-to-back Season MVP Kevin Quiambao could not sustain his hot start, ending up with 19 points, but with just a solitary marker coming in the second half, as he missed all of his six shots against the defense of rookie Jacob Bayla.
"We know naman na if you're gonna play against La Salle, defense will be the one to win the game," said coach Goldwin Monteverde with his Fighting Maroons finally finding a way against La Salle for the first time since Game One of last season's finals.
Quiambao did grab 11 rebounds, but accounted for six of the Green Archers' 18 turnovers in the loss.
Phillips also churned out a double-double of 17 points, 11 boards, and five assists, as EJ Gollena stepped up with all of his 11 points coming in the first half.
The Scores:
UP 73 – Millora-Brown 17, Lopez 13, Cagulangan 13, Abadiano 9, Torculas 7, Bayla 5, Alarcon 4, Torres 3, Fortea 2, Felicilda 0, Stevens 0, Ududo 0.
LA SALLE 65 – Quiambao 19, M. Phillips 17, Gollena 11, Austria 7, Ramiro 5, David 2, Agunanne 2, Marasigan 2, Macalalag 0, Dungo 0, Gonzales 0, Rubico 0.
Quarters: 11-18, 37-41, 54-50, 73-65.
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