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UP Fighting Maroons upset FEU Tamaraws
University of the Philippines used balanced scoring in pulling off a 76-63 win over a highly-favored Far Eastern U Thursday in the 74th UAAP men's basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum. While it defeated University of the East on opening day, to end an 18-game losing streak, the win over last season's runner-up had the most impact as UP beat a title contender for the first time since the Fighting Maroons' victory against Ateneo in 2009. FEU was swept by Ateneo in last year's UAAP finals. Most of their best players came back this year, which made UP's win all the more impressive. FEU still holds the No. 2 spot with a 4-2 record. "I'm happy that our players competed," said UP coach Ricky Dandan. "We are emphasizing this season that we all know what it takes to win. But we need to do what it takes to win and that's what happened." The Fighting Maroons won against the Tamaraws for the first time since a 61-56 triumph on August 28, 2004. Jet Manuel scattered a game-high 20 points with 12 coming in the fourth period to lead the scoring for the Fighting Maroons, who notched their second win in five games this season. UP joined idle National U from sixth to seventh spots. Mike Silungan had 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists while transferee Jelo Montecastro tallied 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. Alinko Mbah, the league's rebounding leader, had seven caroms to go along with 14 points. UP also won the rebounding battle, 42-38. “We are not a big team. We only have one legitimate center in Mbah but he needs his teammates. For the first time, we outrebounded someone and we actually won the game," said Dandan. RR Garcia had 17 points, Aldrech Ramos finished with 13 and 10 rebounds and Mike Tolomia added 12 markers but the Tamaraws played minus JR Cawaling, who has a swollen right knee after a bad fall in their game against University of Santo Tomas. Manuel capped a 13-7 run with a buzzer-beating jumper as UP ended the third period holding a 51-42 lead. A Manuel three-point play upped the Fighting Maroons' lead to 59-44 with seven minutes and five seconds left in the game. Tolomia's lay-up cut what was once a 15-point deficit to seven, 61-54. But UP answered with an 8-2 spurt capped by a Mike Silungan triple 2:11 left in the game clock. Mbah scored the next four points for a 73-56 UP lead 95 ticks before the final buzzer. FEU will face unbeaten Ateneo on Sunday without Mark Bringas as the burly forward was ejected after hitting Mbah at the back in the final seconds of the match. — With Renee Fopalan/OMG/JVP, GMA News
