UP Fighting Maroons’ Gerry Abadiano comforts FEU’s Jorick Bautista after a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines arrested a two-game slide in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament by pulling down the curtains on the Final Four hopes of Far Eastern University, 86-78, on Saturday at FilOil EcoOil Centre.

Suffering two consecutive defeats from National University and top-seed La Salle, the semifinal-bound Fighting Maroons bounced back behind captain Gerry Abadiano’s 19 points and JD Cagulangan and Francis Lopez’s 12 points each.

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“Every time naman may game na ganito, we had to battle it out talaga until the end,” coach Goldwin Monteverde said. “It makes you proud as a coach na, especially coming from dalawang talo kami, but seeing the heart of the players the way we started and even through the imperfections of the game they were trying to execute at both ends.”

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball 

Cagulangan also finished with seven rebounds with Aldous Torculas adding 11 points and six rebounds as UP remained the No. 2 seed after improving to 10-3 (win-loss) record.

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“Nagkataon lang na pumapasok yung tira ko and hinanap ako ng teammates ko. Nag-stick lang kami sa sistema na ginagawa namin,” Abadiano said.

“Sa last shot na yun, na-feel ko lang yung tiwala ng teammates ko pati coaches nandun yung tiwala so kahit anong mangyari ma-shoot ko man o hindi yung bola pinagtitiwalaan nila ako,” Cagulangan said.

UP Fighting Maroons during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game against FEU Tamaraws. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

It was a tight battle until the half before UP unleashed a 20-7 run to open the third quarter to threaten pull away.

The Tamaraws refused to back down and responded with a late 16-5 rally capped by a long trey buzzer-beater heaved by FEU rookie Veejay Pre to stay in the game.

READ: UAAP: La Salle clinches top seed, beats UP again

The Maroons stayed in the lead, bu Jorick Bautista sank three free throws and FEU cut the deficit, 81-78, until Cagulangan drained a familiar step back triple with 26.7 seconds left to shut the doors on the Tamaraws.

FEU missed the postseason for the third straight season after ending its first year under head coach Sean Chambers with a 5-9 card, a two-win improvement from last season’s 3-11 slate.

UP’s Gerry Abadiano, coach Goldwin Monteverde and JD Cagulangan after the victory over FEU. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/0a1tmJjlP0

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) November 16, 2024

With the Tamaraws out of the picture, three teams remained in the hunt for the last two Final Four spots: the University of Santo Tomas, which is battling another hopeful Adamson as of posting, and University of the East.

Quentin Millora-Brown contributed seven points and 13 rebounds in his return after missing UP’s second round matchup with the Green Archers due to the passing of his grandfather.

Bautista paced the Tamaraws with 16 points as Janrey Pasaol contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Pre capped his rookie stint with 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks while Gambian center Mo Konateh put up a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds.

Royce Alforque has exhausted his five playing years and wrapped his UAAP stint with nine points, four assists, two rebounds and a steal.

The Fighting Maroons maintain the winning momentum as they approach their final elimination match against the Red Warriors on Wednesday at the same San Juan venue as UP awaits their Final Four pairing.