University of the Philippines took Game 1 of the UAAP Season 84 men's basketball Finals after turning back reigning champion Ateneo with a thrilling 81-74 win in overtime at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday night, May 8.
The Fighting Maroons, who are a win away from winning the UAAP title since 1986, showed poise down the stretch as Zavier Lucero, Carl Tamayo, and Ricci Rivero connived to hand the Blue Eagles back-to-back losses since their last match in the elimination round on Labor Day, May 1.
UP, hoping to end its 36-year championship drought, clamped down on its defense and forced Ateneo to commit three straight shotclock violations in the waning minutes which proved costly for the defending champion.
This enabled The Maroons, who erased a third quarter 11-point deficit, to capitalize on momentum when Lucero fired a corner triple off a JD Cagulangan assist en route to a 74-deadlock with 3:49 left.
"Maraming ups and downs nangyari on both ends... but we just kept reminding each other not to give up,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde. "Just continue what we're doing, just try to be consistent sa game at gumanda, nadala namin hanggang sa dulo."
But it was James Spencer who spelled the difference when he sank a game-tying three-pointer off an Ateneo inbound turnover to send the game in overtime, 70-all, with 24.7 seconds left in front of a strong 11,582 spectators including UP alumnus, Vice Presidentiable, and Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.
The Eagles committed a shotclock violation before Rivero maximized the remaining .7 seconds but missed.
Rivero made up for his dismal 4-of-16 shooting from the field and seven turnovers after chalking up 19 points, including key baskets in overtime and a pair of free throw to ice the game, along with four steals.
Lucero posted 17 points and 13 rebounds, James Spencer tallied 13 points built on three triples, Malick Diouf grabbed 10 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and three steals, and Carl Tamayo also had an overall performance with 10 points, nine rebounds, five steals, and three assists.
Tied at 74-all, Rivero completed an and-one play before Tamayo converted another basket off the former's steal from Ateneo's inbound with 1:58 remaining.
A Rivero block on Ange Kouame at the 45-second mark also came in time for the Maroons as the Eagles just couldn't find their scoring groove at the endgame.
Gian Mamuyac, who went 0-of-5 from beyond the arc, missed three straight triples in the last minute while Verano misfired from the free throw line with 8.2 ticks left.
Kouame's efforts went into naught despite leading the Eagles with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.
SJ Belangel scored 17 points powered by four treys along with four rebounds, and three assists, while Raffy Verano also had 17 points and nine rebounds.
The Scores:
UP 81 -- Rivero 19, Lucero 17, Spencer 13, Diouf 10, Tamayo 10, Cagulangan 4, Alarcon 4, Abadiano 4, Fortea 0, Ramos 0.
ATENEO 74 -- Kouame 18, Belangel 17, Verano 17, Mamuyac 7, Ildefonso 6, Andrade 3, Chiu 2, Koon 2, Daves 2, Tio 0, Padrigao 0.
Quarterscores: 17-19, 32-31, 49-54, 70-70, 81-74.