UP thrashes UE to nab second win

Paul Desiderio had a double-double of 28 points, including 16 in the third, and 10 rebounds to power the UP Fighting Maroons over the UE Red Warriors. Dennis Jerome Acosta/Dugout Philippines

By Dennis Jerome Acosta

QUEZON CITY—Leaning on a 26-7 third quarter surge, the UP Fighting Maroons turned back the UE Red Warriors 84-71, in the UAAP men's basketball tournament at the SMart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

UE opened the game hot, establishing control over the tempo of the game, at one point even erecting a 14-point lead over the Fighting Maroons. 

However, UP, refusing to quit, came back in the third quarter via the 26-7 barrage led by their captain Paul Desidero, who himself tallied 16 in the third quarter alone, to overturn a four-point deficit into a fifteen point lead entering the final canto. 

The Fighting Maroons never looked back and with the win, improved their record to two wins against their one loss.

With the loss, UE dropped their third straight game remaining winless in the tournament.

Desiderio led the Fighting Maroons in their win, notching a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds as well. 

Clark Derige on the other hand paced the Warriors with 21 points and nine rebounds.

UP next faces La Salle on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

UE on the other hand has another chance to earn their first win against Ateneo next Sunday at 2 p.m. also at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Box Scores:

UP 84-Desiderio 28, Ouattara 14, Manzo 10, Ja. Gomez de Liano 9, Ju. Gomez de Liano 7, Prado 7, Lim 4, Lao 3, Webb 2, Dario 0.

UE 71-Derige 21, Maloles 16, Pasaol 12, Olayon 11, Manalang 8, Cullar 3, Varilla 0, Bartolome 0, Acuno 0, Abanto 0, Armenion 0, Conner 0, Cruz 0, Gagate 0.

Quarterscores: 18-27; 38-42; 64-49; 84-71.

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