By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
For the third time this season, the UST Growling Tigers dealt the UP Fighting Maroons another loss. Having been winless against UST the whole season, UP is now in danger of not only a season sweep, but also being eliminated from contention.
The Fighting Maroons could just not withstand the hot-shooting of UST and that cost them game 1 of their semifinal clash, 89-69.
The trio of Rhenz Abando, UAAP MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo, and Negrense Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy torched the Fighting Maroons from the perimeter and downtown, exposing UP’s lapses on the defensive end.
UST shot lights out consistently, knocking down both open and contested shots that kept UST fans on their feet while deflating the UP crowd.
Bright Akhuetie, last year’s MVP, tried to carry his team by forcing the action underneath but it wasn’t enough as UST just had too many answers for UP’s run.
UP started to gain life when Juan Gomez De Liaño started to heat up as he knocked down difficult looks, but UST then answered with a huge run that made it hard for UP to recover.
Mythical five-member and UP superstar Kobe Paras struggled and was forced to turn the ball over several times, scoring only 9 points the entire ball game.
Expect UP to execute and play better with their backs against the wall.
