Only Murders in the Building, but at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena as the UP Fighting Maroons delivered a 110-79 beatdown of the UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball tournament on Saturday.
It is the most lopsided win of the season so far, and the second most scored in the UAAP during the post-pandemic era, according to statistician Pong Ducanes.
In the fourth quarter, the lead even ballooned to as much as 37. It was utter dominance.
The challenge now for the undefeated Fighting Maroons? Don't be complacent. They are only halfway through the first round, after all.
"'Wag maging kumpyansa sa lahat," JD Cagulangan said in the postgame interview. He had 16 points, two rebounds, nine assists, and three steals against UST.
"'Yung goal sa start pa lang ng season, malaro 'yung pinaka-potential namin. Kailangan i-improve 'yung team namin na walang magku-kumpiyansa," he added.
And Cagulangan said it starts with training.
"Kung paano dadalhin 'yung sarili namin. Of course, 'yung disiplina sa isa't isa," he added.
UP's shellacking of UST from pretty much the opening tip all the way to the final buzzer allowed coach Goldwin Monteverde to give everyone minutes—and the chance to score.
For Harold Alarcon, who chipped in 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal, it was a statement win coming off the team's tight overtime victory against the FEU Tamaraws last time around.
"Coming from a bad game against FEU, nag-bounce back lang kami today," he said after the game.
There will certainly be no leeway for complacency, as the 5-0 Fighting Maroons will next take on the second-running La Salle Green Archers on October 18, 6 p.m. at the MOA Arena It will be aired on One Sports, the UAAP Varsity Channel, and the Pilipinas Live app.
(With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada, One Sports Digital)
(MDB)