Zavier Lucero and Ricci Rivero joined forces to lift University of the Philippines past University of the East, 81-68, and clinch a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the playoffs of the UAAP Season 84 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Tuesday, April 26.
The Fighting Maroons used a strong first half to lead by as many as 18 points, 44-26, but the Red Warriors never wavered and fought back with a stronger resolve in the third quarter.
UE managed to cut the deficit down to nine points but the lead was too much to overcome for the Warriors as UP rebuilt another 17-point cushion in the payoff period behind the efforts of Lucero and Rivero.
"Working pa rin kami as a team -- how to get 'yong rhythm namin as a team, how to execute as a team, which nakikita ko we've been doing for the whole game kanina," said Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Lucero, who was one of the frontrunners for the Most Valuable Player race, made noise for the first time in the second round as he powered UP with 20 points on a 7-of-12 shooting along with 14 rebounds and three assists.
Rivero contributed 17 points with four rebounds as the Fighting Maroons, who improved to a 10-2 record, got a firm grip of their solo second seed with two game days left in the elimination round.
UP showed poise down the stretch and unloaded a 12-4 run capped by Rivero's alley-oop dunk off a JD Cagulangan dish en route to a comfortable 73-56 gap with 4:20 remaining.
It was all the Maroons from that point on still courtesy of Lucero and Rivero as the Warriors remained winless in 12 straight matches.
Jojo Antiporda paced UE with 15 points and three assists while Nico Paranada chipped in 13 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
UP takes on the embattled University of Santo Tomas to cap the quadruple-header at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28 while UE hopes to take win No. 1 against National University in the 10 a.m. curtain-raiser.
The Scores:
UP 81 -- Lucero 20, Rivero 17, Cansino 8, Tamayo 7, Eusebio 7, Diouf 6, Abadiano 6, Cagulangan 4, Fortea 4, Spencer 2, Calimag 0, Alarcon 0.
UE 68 -- Antiporda 15, N. Paranada 13, Escamis 9, K. Paranada 8, Beltran 7, Sawat 4, Pagsanjan 4, J. Cruz 3, Villanueva 3, Lorenzana 2, Abatayo 0, Tulabut 0, Guevarra 0, Pascual 0, P. Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 18-8, 44-26, 59-44, 81-68.