Rookies Janjan Felicilda and Francis Lopez powered University of the Philippines past Far Eastern University in overtime, 80-76, in the first round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Fighting Maroons fought to the end of the extra period to stay perfect in four games.

Felicilda topscored for UP in the balanced effort with 17 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting, while CJ Cansino contributed 14 points.

Diouf delivered a double-double performance for the fourth straight time after tallying 11 points and 20 rebounds this time, while rookie Lopez flirted with a double-double finish of nine points and 11 rebounds.

The Fighting Maroons and the Tamaraws were on a stalemate at 65-all with 2:41 left in regulation before Felicilda’s huge and-1 play briefly gave UP a three-point advantage. 

However, Jorick Bautista came through with an even bigger three-pointer with 30.3 seconds to spare to put the match in another deadlock.

With plenty of time left to convert another shot and avert going into overtime, Harold Alarcon missed his jumper.

After the scramble for the ball and FEU giving up another costly turnover, there were 1.7 seconds left for UP to save the game.

Lopez supposedly then took the next shot with a fadeaway jumper, but Diouf touched the ball on its way down when the shot clock already expired which deemed the basket not counted.

In the extra period, both squads engaged in another nip-and-tuck affair, 73-all, but Diouf unloaded four straight points to stay ahead.

Bautista, though, drilled another triple to pull FEU within one with half a minute to go.

However, Felicilda iced the game with a layup as UP came away with the victory.

“Every game is a chance to improve coming to the fourth game. There was some stuff we wanted to emphasize somewhere and it's part of our growth as a team. As we watch the game and as the players reflect offensively and defensively  papasok ng next game namin ma-apply namin iyong mga ‘yon,” said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzo.

Bautista led all scorers and finished with a season-high 26 points in the losing cause, while LJ Gonzales had 19 points of his own.

The Tamaraws continued to slide in four games.

The scores:

UP (80) – Felicilda 17, Cansino 14, Diouf 11, Lopez 9, Alarcon 8, Torres 6, Torculas 6, Cagulangan 5, Alter 4, Pablo 0, Gonzales 0, Briones 0, Belmonte 0.

FEU (76) – Bautista 26, Gonzales 19, Torres 9, Ona 8, Sleat 7, Torres 4, Alforque 3, Faty 0, Bagunu 0, Buenaventura 0, Competente 0, Montemayor 0.

Quarterscores: 17-13, 35-38, 54-56, 68-68, 80-76