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Francis Lopez and Terrence Fortea dish big damage from downtown as UP celebrates JD Cagulangan’s return with a UAAP elimination-round sweep of UST
MANILA, Philippines – The UP Fighting Maroons in recent years made a living out of aching hearts, both of opponents’ fans and their own, and Saturday night, October 13, was no exception as they pulled off a late heist over the UST Growling Tigers, 83-73, to sweep their UAAP season series at the Araneta Coliseum.
Down 61-65 after a Forthsky Padrigao three at the 8:27 mark of the fourth quarter, UP turned to veteran guards Terrence Fortea and the returning JD Cagulangan, who conspired for a game-changing 16-2 run and a sudden 77-67 difference with 4:09 left in regulation.
UST only got as near as 7, 70-77, in the last two minutes before Fortea hushed the roaring Tigers’ crowd with back-to-back corner triples to regain a double-digit separation, 83-73, and set the final score with 39.6 left to play.
Fortea led the second-half surge with 14 of his 16 points coming in the latter two frames, but it was high-flyer Francis Lopez who first gave UP a fighting chance with his game-high 20 points on a near-perfect 8-of-9 clip and an intriguing 3-of-4 display from downtown.
Cagulangan added 9 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals in just 15 minutes off the bench, while Reyland Torres — currently in the spotlight for his spitting allegation on La Salle coach Topex Robinson — offset a 1-of-6 shooting night with 4 points, a team-high 5 dimes, and 3 boards.
Mo Tounkara paced the loss with a game-high 24 points plus 9 rebounds, while fellow star Nic Cabañero scored 17 with 9 boards as well.
With the win, UP stayed at second place behind defending champion La Salle with identical 7-1 records as UST slid down to an even 4-4 slate, still at fourth.
The Scores
UP 83 – Lopez 20, Fortea 16, Alarcon 11, Millora-Brown 10, Cagulangan 9, Bayla 4, Torres 4, Ududo 4, Belmonte 3, Stevens 2, Felicilda 0, Torculas 0, Briones 0.
UST 73 – Tounkara 24, Cabanero 17, Manaytay 12, Padrigao 5, Llemit 5, Danting 4, Robinson 4, Acido 2, Crisostomo 0, Calum 0, Lane 0, Pangilinan 0, Paranada 0, Laure 0, Mahmood 0.
Quarters: 18-17, 43-43, 59-62, 83-73.
– Rappler.com
