The UP Fighting Maroons bucked a slow start to outlast the Adamson Soaring Falcons, securing their fifth win in UAAP Season 87.
The University of the Philippines completed the roaring comeback to remain undefeated in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, after overwhelming the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 69-57, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday.
The Fighting Maroons overcame a slow start, during which the Soaring Falcons built a 26-9 lead to end the first quarter. Adamson continued their hot start in the second for a 31-9 lead, the biggest in the game.
But from there, UP would find its bearings behind Harold Alarcon and Jacob Bayla, ending the first half on an 18-2 run and cutting the deficit to just six points.
Riding the momentum, the Fighting Maroons pushed ahead in the third quarter, taking their first lead since the 2-0 start at 34-33 after a jumper by JD Cagulangan with 7:37 to go in the frame.
State U would take its biggest lead at 65-50 late in the fourth, courtesy of a floater by Janjan Felicilda. From there, the Fighting Maroons would secure a comfortable victory for a 5-0 record in Season 87.
The Soaring Falcons, meanwhile, slid to a 3-3 record, still in fourth place.