LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – University of the Philippines (UP_ pulled away in the last eight minutes from reigning World University Basketball Series champion National Chengchi University of Taiwan to score a 92-67 win in a pre-UAAP tune-up game at the Copeland Gym of UP Los Baños on Friday.
Gerry Abadiano led the Fighting Maroons' breakaway from 66-64 within an eight-minute span, firing three of six triples in UP's 24-3 endgame-run.
CJ Cansino drained two and Janjan Felicida made another triple during the spurt.
"It was a change of intensity during the fourth," coach Goldwin Monteverde told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on what transpired in the final frame after the Maroons let the Griffins claw their way back to the game after an early double-digit hole.
Abadiano finished with 21 points, three rebounds, and three assists for UP, which aims to reclaim the University Athletic Association of the Philippines title after losing to Ateneo in the Season 85 finals last Christmas.
"Binigay na lang sa akin ng teammates ko. Nagtiwala yung mga teammates ko sa akin. ‘Di ko naman inakala na ganun (My teammates just passed the ball to me. They trusted me. I didn't expect that it will happen)," Abadiano told the PNA in a separate interview.
Malick Diouf added 14 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal for UP,
Hsin Hao-Sung, Zhi Kai-Wu and Boubacar Mboup each tallied 12 points for Chengchi, with Mboup also grabbing 13 boards.
The scores:
UP 92 – Abadiano 21, Diouf 14, Lopez 12, Torres 8, Cansino 8, Briones 7, Belmonte 5, Felicida 5, Torculas 4, Alter 4, Cagulangan 2, Pablo 2, Gagate 0, Alarcon 0.
CHENGCHI 67 – Hsin 12, Zhi 12, Mboup 12, Yun 10, Te 7, Drame 6, Ai 4, Chao 2, HL Tzu 2, HT Tzu 0, Li 0
Quarters: 28-20, 44-43, 64-61, 92-67 (PNA)
