By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Fighting Maroons raced to their second straight victory in UAAP Season 82 at the expense of the “luckless” National University Bulldogs, 80-79, on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Had a slow start to the game, the Maroons (3-1) picked things up in the middle quarters to build some distance before holding tough in the end to book the victory that sent the Bulldogs (0-4) to their fourth straight defeat and third one-point loss in the ongoing season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

In the second game, the Adamson Soaring Falcons came from behind to top the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 78-71.

NU got it going early in the paint, with RJ Minerva and Issa Gaye finding their mark and helping their team to a 14-10 lead midway into the opening quarter.

It would maintain control the rest of the quarter despite efforts by Kobe Paras to keep UP in the game, holding a 23-18 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.

In the second frame, the Maroons exploded as Javi Gomez De Liano waxed hot from beyond the arc.

UP rode the momentum and successfully turned the tables on NU at the break, 44-36.

Dave Ildefonso tried to rally the Bulldogs back in the third quarter but Paras And Co. continuously found ways to fend off their opponents.

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Maroons still carried an eight-point cushion, 67-59.

In the fourth quarter, the two teams jostled hard.

UP still had control of the game for much of the time but NU kept itself within striking distance.

The count stood at 78-73 with a minute to go and the Maroons on top before Ildefonso made it a four-point affair, 78-74, with 32 seconds to go by splitting his free throws.

Bright Akhuetie still opened the door for the Bulldogs after muffing his free throws with 24 seconds remaining.

Ildefonso pushed NU to within two, 78-76, with 17 ticks left by draining both his free throws off a foul from Jaydee Tungcab.

UP sued for time after, going to Akhuetie anew off the inbounds.

The UP big man was fouled by Enzo Joson with 16 seconds to go.

But Akhuetie made both his charities to hand the Maroons an 80-76 advantage.

The Bulldogs called timeout after to chart a play.

Ildefonso’s number was pressed anew by NU and he delivered with a triple with 11 seconds remaining to make it an 80-79 count.

The Bulldogs fouled Dave Murrell, who missed his free throws and kept the Bulldogs alive.

NU sped back to its court following the defensive rebound and had a shot to win it all.

The outside heave of John Lloyd Clemente, however, fell short, preserving the victory for UP.

Paras led the way for UP once again with 25 points. He remains unbeaten in a Maroons uniform since finally suiting up for the team in their previous game.

Akhuetie had 19 points and 12 rebounds while Gomez De Liano had 17 points, going 5-of-7 from three-point land.

For NU it was Ildefonso who topscored with 25 points, followed by Gaye with 13 points to go along with 13 boards.

Despite winning back-to-back games now, UP coach Bo Perasol reiterated that his team still needs to work some facets of its game, including closing out games, something he said they had a hard time doing against NU.

“We need to learn how to close out games as a team. That’s a process,” said Mr. Perasol postgame.

UP returns to action on Sept. 21 against the University of the East Red Warriors while NU tries to finally notch that elusive first victory in Season 82 versus the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sept. 22.

In the second game, Adamson (3-2) turned to a strong finishing kick to pull the rug from under UST (3-2) to get back on the winning track after losing in its previous game.

The Falcons played catch-up for much of the contest but soared past the Tigers in the end led by Val Chauca and Jerrick Ahanmisi on their way to the dig-deep victory.

Ahanmisi paced Adamson with 24 points followed by Chauca with 18.

For UST it was Soulemane Chabi Yo who led with 17 points with CJ Cansino, Sherwin Comcepcion and Mark Nonoy adding 10 points each.

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