University of the Philippines averted a late meltdown and held off De La Salle with a 72-69 win in the UAAP Season 84 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Saturday, April 23.
The Green Archers picked up the pace late in the payoff period as Deschon Winston engineered a 10-0 run run to trail by only two points, 71-69.
Michael Phillips also gave De La Salle a lift with a putback basket off a Winston miss with 10.5 seconds to go.
Ricci Rivero split his free throws in the ensuing play to make it a one-possession affair, but Mark Nonoy couldn't deliver in the clutch after his corner three went too high and hit the top of the board.
"This game namin compared sa last, very different," said Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde. "'Yong ball movement from the start we were sharing the ball, hitting the open man. Yung mga things na we're really working on, nakita namin kanina."
Tamayo posted a career-high of 23 points and 11 rebounds while Diouf had a monster performance of 15 points and 18 rebounds.
Rivero added 11 points and Zavier Lucero chipped in nine points and eight rebounds for the Maroons, who tightened their grip in the solo second at 9-2 record.
Lojera, Nonoy, and Winston earlier took momentum and connived for an 8-0 run midway through the payoff period to cut off the Archers' deficit down to eight, 67-59.
But Rivero, Tamayo and Diouf joined forces and responded with six straight points for UP to rebuild another 12-point lead, 71-59, before Winston took charge once more for De La Salle's final assault.
Justine Baltazar led the Archers, who slid to a 7-4 slate, with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists while Winston finished with 16 points.
UP takes on the winless University of the East on Tuesday, April 26 at 12:30 p.m. while De La Salle hopes to bounce back and enter the win column against Far Eastern University in the 10 a.m. curtain-raiser.
The Scores:
UP 72 -- Tamayo 23, Diouf 15, Rivero 11, Lucero 9, Fortea 8, Cagulangan 4, Spencer 2, Abadiano 0, Cansino 0, Alarcon 0, Lina 0.
DE LA SALLE 69 -- Baltazar 16, Winston 16, Lojera 13, M. Phillips 8, Nelle 7, Nonoy 7, B. Phillips 2, Manuel 0, Escandor 0, Nwankwo 0, Cuajao 0.
Quarters: 18-17, 42-31, 56-49, 72-69.