UP clinches spot in UAAP Final Four after repeat win over DLSU

University of the Philippines clinched a Final Four seat and the virtual No. 2 seed after scoring a repeat win over La Salle, 72-69, in the UAAP Season 84 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City earlier today, April 23.

Carl Tamayo banged in 23 points and 11 rebounds while his frontcourt partner Maodo Diouf had a 15-18 double-double as the Fighting Maroons followed unbeaten Ateneo to the playoffs with a 9-2 card.

UP also carved out a feisty 61-59 win over the same team in the first round to create a comfortable separation for the second spot with only three games to go in the two-round prelims.

“We had better ball movement in this game compared to our last game. Yung mga bagay na we’re working on, nakita namin kanina. We just have to keep on improving,” said coach Goldwin Monteverde as UP’s Final Four entry got derailed last time out after having its eight-game run snapped by Adamson in a 66-58 upset loss.  

Justine Baltazar and Schonny Winston fired 16 markers each in the cost for the Green Archers, who nearly erased a 16-point deficit before Mark Nonoy missed a game-tying three at the horn.

La Salle fell behind at third with a 7-4 slate with a number of teams lurking at their doorsteps for the last two Final Four tickets.

Earlier, undefeated reigning champion Ateneo moved closer to a season sweep and an automatic finals ticket with an 89-75 win over National U while Adamson solidified its Final Four bid with an 80-69 win over Santo Tomas.

Dave Ildefonso led the way with 17 points on five triples as the Blue Eagles improved to 11-0, three wins away from sweeping the prelims for a free passage to the championship round as they did in Season 82.

Ateneo also extended its rampage to 37 consecutive wins since 2018 to shore up its drive for a fourth straight UAAP crown.

For the Soaring Falcons, Jerom Lastimosa waxed hot with 24 markers as they claimed their fourth straight win to move to No. 4 with a 5-6 card.

National U (4-7) and Santo Tomas (4-8) fell further in the Final Four race following the crucial losses.

Meanwhile, the UAAP is sticking to a strict bubble set-up at least for the duration of the basketball tourney but will consider transitioning to a closed-circuit setting for volleyball under the relaxed guidelines by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“The managing directors and the presidents of the league have committed to maintaining the bubble at least for the basketball tournament. Tatapusin namin ito ng maayos,” said UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag in a presser yesterday also attended by president Nonong Calanog and CHED chairman Popoy de Vera.

The scores

First Game

ADAMSON 80 – Lastimosa 24, Magbuhos 11, Douanga 9, Sabandal 8, Manzano 8, Zaldivar 8, Peromingan 8, Yerro 2, Colonia 2, Hanapi 0, Jaymalin 0, Calisay 0, Fuentebella 0, Erolon 0, Barasi 0, Maata 0.

UST 69 – Fontanilla 23, Cabanero 13, Manalang 11, Santos 5, Concepcion 4, Gesalem 3, Manaytay 3, Garing 3, Ando 2, Herrera 2, Pangilinan 0, Yongco 0, Canoy 0.

Quarterscores: 22-21, 41-40, 66-52, 80-69.The Scores:

ATENEO 89 – Ildefonso 17, Kouame 16, Belangel 9, Chiu 9, Verano 8, Mamuyac 8, Andrade 6, Tio 6, Koon 5, Lazaro 5, Padrigao 0, Gomez 0, Daves 0.

NU 75 – Felicilda 12, Figueroa 12, Clemente 10, Gaye 9, Ildefonso 7, Torres 7, Minerva 5, Malonzo 4, Mahinay 4, Galinato 3, Joson 2, Enriquez 0, Manansala 0, Yu 0.

Quarterscores: 29-12, 61-36, 78-49, 89-75.

Third Game

UP 72 – Tamayo 23, Diouf 15, Rivero 11, Lucero 9, Fortea 8, Cagulangan 4, Spencer 2, Abadiano 0, Cansino 0, Alarcon 0, Lina 0.

LA SALLE 69 – Baltazar 16, Winston 16, Lojera 13, M. Phillips 8, Nelle 7, Nonoy 7, B. Phillips 2, Manuel 0, Escandor 0, Nwankwo 0, Cuajao 0.

Quarterscores: 18-17, 42-31, 56-49, 72-69.