Even without JD Cagulangan, the UP Fighting Maroons pulled away against the UST Growling Tigers to remain undefeated in UAAP Season 87.
No JD Cagulangan, no problem.
The UP Fighting Maroons leaned on its stacked lineup to take down the gritty UST Growling Tigers, 81-70, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Wedensday, October 2.
Holding on to a slim lead heading into the final frame, Francis Lopez and Harold Alarcon came up big to push State U’s lead to double digits at 78-65 with just over four minutes left.
UP’s hounding defense also came alive in the fourth as they limited UST to just seven points en route to the comfortable win.
After Christian Manaytay’s first basket in the final frame, it was only until Nic Cabanero’s free throws with 2:37 left in the game that the España-based squad put points on the board.
Forthsky Padrigao managed to score once more for the Growling Tigers’ with a three-point basket with 1:41 left.
UST seemingly struggled without its foreign student-athlete Mo Tounakaro, who went down with a right ankle injury at 9:36 in the fourth after stepping on Terrence Fortea’s foot.
The Malian center was able to return to the game, but by then, the Fighting Maroons had proved to be too much to handle.
Alarcon led the way for UP with 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists, while Lopez added 15 markers, six boards, and two dimes. Fortea contributed 11 in the win.
Tounakara paced UST with a game-high 21 points and five rebounds. Nic Cabanero and Padrigao had 15 and 14 markers, respectively, in the loss.