UP’s JD Cagulangan. Photo from UAAP Media.

MANILA (UPDATED) — The University of the Philippines' (UP) redemption campaign is off to a good start.  

The Fighting Maroons started UAAP Season 87 with a 77-61 victory over Ateneo de Manila University during their Saturday evening clash in front of 12,932 fans at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, with JD Cagulangan leading the way for the Diliman-based team.

The veteran guard had 17 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and two steals in their win, while Francis Lopez dazzled with 14 markers — four of which came from tomahawk slams late in the fourth — on top of six boards and three dimes.

Also standing out for the Maroons was Terrence Fortea who had eight as well as one-and-done player Quentin Millora-Brown who finished with seven points and 17 boards in 24 minutes of action. 

Only ahead by eight, 62-54, after Ateneo erased an 18-point lead, Cagulangan hit a tough jumper to re-extend their lead to 10 at the 5:03 mark of the final period.

Lopez then hit five straight points to regain a 15-point lead, with the last of the two baskets being a tomahawk dunk with only 4:03 left in the game, and that was all that State U needed to fend off their Katipunan neighbors and start the year at 1-0. 

UP had to overcome a slow start, however, which head coach Goldwin Monteverde took note of after the bout.

"I felt that we started tight in the first half," he said during the post-game presser, talking about how the Blue Eagles were able to get close to them despite Ateneo being the smaller team in terms of height and length.

"But when we started moving the ball around, we were able to do what we wanted. Nakuha namin yung confidence namin as a team," he explained. 

Meanwhile, Ateneo rookie Jared Bahay top-scored for his team with 13 points, six of which came in the opening quarter, and he also delivered five rebounds and four assists for the Blue Eagles.

Josh Lazaro did his best for the Blue Eagles and finished with an 11-point, 11-rebound game, while Shawn Tuano also scored the same amount together with five boards.

The Maroons will gun for their second win on Saturday, September 14, 6:30 p.m. against the University of the East, while the Blue Eagles will hope to bounce back when they face University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday, September 11, at the same time and venue.  

The Scores:

UP 77 - Cagulangan 17, Lopez 14, Fortea 8, Millora-Brown 7, Bayla 7, Ududo 7, Alarcon 6, Abadiano 5, Belmonte 4, Torres 2, Felicilda 0, Stevens 0, Briones 0, Alter 0.

ATENEO 61 - Bahay 13, Lazaro 11, Tuano 11, Espina 7, Espinosa 4, Balogun 4, Porter 3, Gamber 3, Koon 3, Bongo 2, Quitevis 0, Ong 0, Edu 0.

Quarterscores: 17-16, 40-30, 58-45, 77-61.

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