The Fighting Maroons have maintained a perfect record.
Gerry Abadiano hit one of the biggest shots as the UP Fighting Maroons held on for a cardiac 67-64 win over the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday.
Off a broken play, Abadiano calmly sank a baseline jumper that gave the Fighting Maroons a 65-63 buffer with 1:01 remaining.
Almost a minute later, Reyland Torres canned a pair of free throws before CJ Cansino anticipated the inbound pass to La Salle's Kevin Quiambao, as UP preserved an immaculate 6-0 record.
Abadiano, who finished with 13 points, said he just got lucky.
“Siguro ginagawa ko lang role ko sa team namin. It’s all about timing lang naman. Nasuwertehan lang na ‘yung mga tira ko pumapasok,” he said after the match at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Although the Fighting Maroons kept their bearings going, Abadiano said there’s still a lot of work cut out for the team.
“Blessed kami nakuha ‘yung panalo na ‘to,” he said. “Marami pa kami i-improve as a team.”
Coach Goldwin Monteverde agreed. He said tough affairs such as this will go a long way in their development as the season progresses.
“Every game, whether manalo kami nang malaki or close, we’ll always take that as a learning experience,” he said. “Especially now sa team with a mix of veterans and young guys, they need these kinds of games to grow as a team.”
(CF)