REY REMOGAT (16) finally broke through with 21 points on seven-of-16 shooting including six triples laced by 11 assists and seven rebounds for a near triple-double performance after bleeding for just 2.5 games in the first two games. — UAAP/STEVE MARION

Games on Wednesday
(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)
7:30 a.m. – UST vs NUNS (16U)
10 a.m. – DLSU vs FEU (16U)
12 p.m. – DLSU vs FEU (Women)
2 p.m. – DLSU vs FEU (Men)
4:30 p.m. – UST vs NU (Men)
7 p.m. – UST vs NU (Women)

DEFENDING titlist University of the Philippines (UP) vented its ire on the hapless University of the East (UE), 92-75, to barge into the win column of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Fighting Maroons jumped to a 20-point lead in the first half and were never threatened from there on to avenge their shocking back-to-back losses to University of Santo Tomas and Adamson.

Up against his former squad, former Mythical Team member Rey Remogat finally broke through with 21 points on seven-of-16 shooting including six triples laced by 11 assists and seven rebounds for a near triple-double performance after bleeding for just 2.5 games in the first two games.

Mr. Remogat had only five points on two-of-10 clip in UP’s 87-67 blowout loss to the Growling Tigers and went scoreless on 0-of-four shooting in another 62-59 buzzer-beating defeat to the Soaring Falcons.

He wasn’t alone though, drawing ample coverage from Francis Nnoruka and Gani Stevens with similar 14-point, 10-rebound double-doubles. Team captain Gerry Abadiano added 11 while Miguel Palanca, Jacob Bayla and Mark Belmonte contributed eight, seven and six, respectively.

Hopes were high for the reigning champions to cruise to their first two games against lower-ranked teams but got decked instead for their first 0-2 start since 2016. And for coach Goldwin Monteverde, there was no allowing a third straight defeat.

After a 17-9 start, UP went full throttle in the second quarter to take the fight out of UE with a 53-33 on a Reyland Torres jumper until leading by as many as 28 points in the second half.

Precious Momowei churned out 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four blocks while Wello Lingolingo had the same output for the Red Warriors, who fell deeper at the cellar with a 0-3 slate.

UE previously bowed to National University, 72-57, and Ateneo, 62-60.

In women’s basketball, Camille Nolasco fired 21 points as UP (2-0) fended off UE (0-2) with an 84-75 win for a blazing start after missing the Final Four last season. — John Bryan Ulanday

The Scores:

First Game

UP 92 – Remogat 21, Nnoruka 14, Stevens 14, Abadiano 11, Palanca 8, Bayla 7, Belmonte 6, Felicilda 3, Alarcon 2, Torres 2, Andres 2, Briones 2, Fortea 0, Alter 0, Coronel 0, Yniguez 0.

UE 75 – Momowei 18, Lingolingo 18, Abate 15, Jimenez 10, Datumalim 5, Mulingtapang 3, Tañedo 2, Caoile 2, Robles 2, Cruz-Dumont 0, Lagat 0, Malaga 0.

Quarterscores: 27-20, 53-36, 74-54, 92-75

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