UNIVERSITY of the Philippines is exactly the kind of program Far Eastern University aspires to be.
Built with a core which has been familiar with each other since high school before adding a few pieces here and there, and guided by an elite tactician, the Tamaraws are indeed following the blueprint that made the Fighting Maroons the contender that they are now.
But on Sunday, all FEU can do is dream with UP rampaging all the way to a 69-58 decision in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
All State U needed was a quarter to blow away the competition, using a 20-7 second period to erect a 39-22 halftime lead and never look back.
Francis Lopez led the Fighting Maroons in the wire-to-wire win with 13 points and four rebounds, as Quentin Millora-Brown saw no resistance in the paint en route to racking up 11 points and 13 boards.
It’s another easy, breezy wire-to-wire win for UP which stretched the lead to its highest at 25, 69-44, after a Reyland Torres drive, as it remains unbeaten through four games.
The dry spell, on the other hand, continued for Sean Chambers and FEU as the Morayta side dropped to 0-4.
READ: Sean Chambers eyed as Gilas Pilipinas Youth head coach
Rookie Adam Nakai had his best game to date for the Tamaraws with 12 points from two treys, as he ignited a late 14-0 run to slice the lead to a more modest spread.
The Scores:
UP 69 – Lopez 13, Millora-Brown 11, Felicilda 9, Cagulangan 7, Bayla 6, Alarcon 6, Torres 4, Alter 4, Abadiano 3, Ududo 2, Briones 2, Walker 2, Belmonte 0, Fortea 0, Torculas 0, Stevens 0.
FEU 58 – Nakai 12, Bautista 11, Pre 10, Montemayor 9, Konateh 8, Alforque 6, Pasaol 2, Daa 0, Ona 0, Bagunu 0.
Quarters: 19-15, 39-22, 55-37, 69-58.
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