The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons delivered a commanding performance against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, securing a decisive 77-61 victory in a thrilling season opener on Saturday, September 7.
JD Cagulangan, in his final playing year, led UP’s scoring with 17 points, alongside 10 assists and 7 rebounds. Francis Lopez showcasing his powerful dunks, contributed 14 points to the team’s total.
After a competitive first quarter, UP dominated the middle quarters, with their lead ballooning to 18 points, 50-32, in the third quarter after Jacob Bayla scored a crucial basket.
Ateneo mounted a determined fightback, led by Jared Bahay with 13 points and Joshua Lazaro contributing 11, in hopes to close the gap. The squad managed to trim the lead to eight points, 62-54, thanks to key shots from Shawn Tuano.
As the fourth quarter progressed, the Eagles' chance to recover slipped away when Lopez executed two impressive tomahawk dunks in the last two minutes, grasping the victory.
UP will go up against the University of the East in their next game, scheduled for Saturday at Araneta Coliseum.
