ALMOST, but not quite.
The University of the Philippines came dangerously close to a major shocker before repulsing pitiful University of the East, 91-81, and registering its third win in a row at the close of UAAP Season 89 Round 1.
The Fighting Maroons overturned a 10-point deficit with a pivotal 28-17 third quarter storm after the Red Warriors controlled the first half, narrowly avoiding what could have been the season’s biggest upset.
“Naunahan kami ng UE in a way. That's one test for the team, coming from behind, playing tough defense para makabalik sa game. Along the way, kailangan namin matuto to start strong," said head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
James Payosing fronted the maroon-and-green fightback with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Chicco Briones added 13 points, mostly in the second half.
Former UE cornerstones Gani Stevens and Rey Remogat contributed 12 points and nine rebounds and 10 points, respectively. Veejay Pre and Elliot Dimaculangan then chipped in 11 markers apiece. in a well-balanced UP attack.
The Fighting Maroons stand alone atop the leaderboard at 5-2, at least for now, ahead of idle Far Eastern University and National U, which will break tie at 4-2 tomorrow.
Dishonorable mention for UE
UE, on the other hand, continued to sink deeper into the record books for all the wrong reasons.
The Red Warriors just matched UP's 27-game losing streak from 2012 to 2014, with the two teams now all even for the second-longest slide in the Final Four era.
Toper Lagat poured in 26 points on 10-of-24 shooting, waxing hot even as the red-and-white couldn’t capitalize on one of its best chances to break through.
The Scores:
UP 91 – Payosing 16, Briones 13, Stevens 12, Pre 11, Dimaculangan 11, Remogat 10, Ududo 10, Yñiguez 4, Bayla 2, Alter 2, Franco 0, Palanca 0.
UE 81 – Lagat 26, Tañedo 14, Cruz-Dumont 10, Sabroso 9, Carillo 9, Vazquez 7, Jimenez 4, Robles 2, Edoukou 0, Mascariñas 0, Santos 0, Dungca 0, Apostol 0, Perez 0, Javier 0.
Quarters: 21-25, 45-48, 73-65, 91-81.
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