The University of the Philippines ran off with only one victory in three basketball matches on Oct. 19 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the 88th season of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines.
In the 16-and-under division, the UP Integrated School Junior Fighting Maroons closed the first round of eliminations with its first win: an 11-point edge against the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, 70-59. While the first quarter ended with a slim one-point DLSZ lead at 13-14, UPIS broke out in the next three quarters to finally seal the deal. Kean Poquiz led the charge with an all-around performance of 36 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and seven steals.
In men’s and women’s basketball, the UP Fighting Maroons suffered twin losses against the De La Salle University squads.Â
The UP Men’s Basketball Team lost by three points, 69-72, and closed off its first elimination round with four wins and three losses. UPMBT led the first and third quarters, but its nine points versus DLSU’s 15 in the fourth, spelled the game’s outcome.
The UP Women’s Basketball Team’s second to the last game in round one, meanwhile, was a steep 29-point heartbreak at 59-88. Holding on to a one-point margin in the first two quarters, UPWBT was overpowered in the second half, with DLSU making 50 points against UP’s 20.
On Oct. 22, UPWBT will end R1 with a noontime match against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. In the same venue at 4:30 p.m., UPMBT will face the National University Bulldogs to open the second round. The UPIS Junior Fighting Maroons will also start R2 against the NU Bullpups at 10 a.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
