The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons kept their winning streak going after trampling over the Adamson University Falcons, 91-70, in the UAAP Season 85 men's basketball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
The Fighting Maroons used a huge second-half surge to improve to a league-best 8-1, while the Soaring Falcons fell to 3-5, along with Far Eastern University at sixth.
"'Yun pa rin we didn't have the start na gusto namin. We need to improve on our defense I think they made 45 points in the first half," lamented UP coach Goldwin Monteverde about his team's kryptonite throughout the season.
"Habang nagpo-progress 'yung season we have to work on that. I think yun pa rin being consistent and not thinking about whatever standing we're at now."
JD Cagulangan sparked the Fighting Maroons' blast with a triple with 25 seconds left in the third period, 69-57. Harold Alarcon and Zavier Lucero then combined for six straight points to open the fourth to build an insurmountable 18-point advantage, 75-57.
Malick Diouf delivered a career-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field with eight rebounds and five steals.
Carl Tamayo added 18 points and five rebounds, while Lucero and Terrence Fortea pitched in 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Jerom Lastimosa led the Soaring Falcons with 19 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Lastimosa did not finish the game after hurting his right ankle at the 5:42 mark of the fourth. He converted a reverse layup then stepped on the foot of Cagulangan on his landing.
