By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense Harold Alarcon had a blazing offensive game as the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons prevailed over the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 75-65, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Wednesday, November 20.
The Negros Occidental’s Silay City native guard finished with a career-high of 33 points, with 16 coming in the fourth quarter, as the Fighting Maroons concluded the double-round eliminations with an 11-3 win-loss card.
Quentin Millora-Brown contributed a career-high of 16 points to go with 12 rebounds for the Fighting Maroons, which will have a twice-to-beat advantage against the No. 3 ranked University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in the Final Four.
Holding to a slim 57-54 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Alarcon caught fire with consecutive inside and outside conversions as the Fighting Maroons surged to a 70-60 advantage.
The Red Warriors threatened to within 63-70 on a Rainer Maga triple, but Alarcon responded with back-to-back perimeter baskets as the Fighting Maroons increased the lead to 74-63.
“Every time you have to battle it out until the end, it makes you proud as a coach,” Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwyn Monteverde said regarding their tight finish against the Red Warriors.
Jack Cruz-Dumont led the way with 14 points, four assists, four steals, and three rebounds, while Maga and Precious Momowei added 11 markers apiece for the Red Warriors.
The Red Warriors, which dropped to a 6-8 win-loss slate to close out their elimination round campaign, were once again denied an outright entry to the Final Four with the defeat.
The Jack Santiago-mentored UE can still barge to the semifinals round outright if the No. 5 Adamson University Falcons (5-8) lose to the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (4-9) on the final day of the eliminations on Saturday, November 23.
However, if the Falcons pull off a victory against the Blue Eagles, they will figure in a do-or-die game with the Red Warriors for the fourth and final semifinals spot, and will have a twice-to-win disadvantage against the De La Salle University Green Archers./ASC, WDJ