Back in the big dance for the third straight season, the University of the Philippines showed how it turned the UAAP finals series into its playground.
After a frenetic first quarter, the UP Fighting Maroons quickly took full control to dismantle the La Salle Green Archers, 97-67, in Game 1 of the Season 86 men’s basketball finals on Wednesday, November 29, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Francis Lopez and Harold Alarcon presided over a key third quarter as UP ended the Green Archers’ nine-game winning streak to gain a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series.
Expected to be named the Rookie of the Year, Lopez scattered 9 of his 15 points in the third period and also churned out 11 rebounds to push the Fighting Maroons on the verge of reclaiming the crown they won in Season 84.
UP built a 53-41 cushion at the break before it broke the game wide open by outscoring La Salle, 24-14, in the third frame en route to the most lopsided win in a finals opener in the Final Four era.
“Our mission is to get two wins. Now, we just got to get one more,” said Lopez.
Alarcon scored 8 of his 21 points in the third quarter and made significant contributions on the defensive end by helping contain MVP runaway winner Kevin Quiambao to one of his worst performances of the season.
Quiambao, who is set to be crowned the first local MVP since Ateneo great Kiefer Ravena went back-to-back in 2014 and 2015, put up just 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists for La Salle.
The Archers, who returned to the finals after six years, struggled to buy a basket in the second half as the Maroons pulled away by more than 20 points before wrapping it up with a 30-point blowout.
UP will shoot for its second championship in three seasons in Game 2 on Sunday, December 3.
The Scores
UP 97 – Alarcon 21, Lopez 15, Cagulangan 11, Abadiano 10, Torculas 9, Diouf 9, Cansino 5, Belmonte 5, Fortea 5, Felicilda 4, Pablo 3, Briones 0, Torres 0, Alter 0, Gagate 0.
La Salle 67 – M. Phillips 19, Quiambao 11, Nelle 8, Austria 6, Nonoy 5, Cortez 4, Gollena 4, Escandor 3, David 2, Policarpio 2, Abadam 2, Manuel 1, B. Phillips 0, Macalalag 0, Nwankwo 0.
Quarters: 28-24, 53-41, 77-55, 97-67.
