UE clips UP, nabs third win this season

(UE Red Warrior Philip Manalang strides against UP’s Noah Webb. Photo by Josh Albelda/ Rappler)

The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors disposed the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 73-64, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

UE started out hot and closed the game strong, outscoring UP in first and fourth frame, 21-13 and 25-17, respectively.

The Red Warriors evidently had a nice threshold through the efforts of Alvin Pasaol and Mark Olayon and advanced to a 36-28 lead at halftime.

UP, needing to bounce back from having lost four of its last five games, had tried to battle back through the efforts of the Gomez de Liano brothers who pulled them to as close as 51-57 in the opening minutes of the payoff period.

UE main gunner Alvin Pasaol recorded a double-double of 32 points and 13 rebounds followed by Mark Olayon who fell two-assist shy of a triple double with 11 markers and 10 boards.

Coming off the bench to put the game at a fast pace for the Maroons, Gomez de Liano brothers combined to score 39 of UP’s 64 points, with Javi also grabbing 11 caroms.

The victory put UE to a 3-7 slate while the Maroons dropped to a 4-6 card, leaving their chances of getting in the final four smaller.

The UE Red Warriors will next face the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers on Wednesday, October 25, while the UP Fighting Maroons will encounter the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws on Saturday, October 28, both at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.