By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons’ swingman Zavier Lucero showed everyone why they are such a dangerous team after carrying his squad to a nail-biting 61-59 victory over the tough De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament.
The Maroons got away with one of their worst shooting percentages from the field after a waxing-hot start from the three-point line during the first quarter.
Since playing a sub-par performance during their loss against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their first game, Lucero was quick to flip the switch and proved his doubters wrong.
The Filipino-American forward was all over the place and filled the stat sheet after finishing with 21 points on 9/15 shooting, 14 rebounds, two steals, and a block.
Lucero sank the dagger put-back layup at the 1:48 mark of the final canto which gave them the lead, 61-59, and was also the last basket scored in the game.
The Green Archers had the chance to tie or win the ball game with 3.8 seconds left but Mike Phillips’ floater went off the ring.
Aside from Lucero’s efficient monster game, emerging point guard Joel Cagulangan is also slowly making his presence felt after controlling the pace of the game with his impressive vision that fed the open Fil-Am during the crucial fourth-quarter stretch.
La Salle finally got what they wanted from former San Beda superstar Evan Nelle after dropping his season-best 13 points but was only reinforced by Justine Baltazar as the only double-digit scorers for the green and white.
The huge victory put the Fighting Maroons in solo second spot with a 5-1 win-loss record behind the Ateneo Blue Eagles who are yet to taste their first defeat of the year.
