Gerry Abadiano stepped up for University of the Philippines as it squeaked past defending champion Ateneo, 65-60, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday night, Oct. 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Abadiano led all scorers with 22 points, three rebounds and two assists before the season-high 17,406 crowd as the Fighting Maroons marked their first win over their bitter rivals since Game 1 of their Season 85 best-of-three finals series.

The victory also improved the Diliman-based squad’s win-loss tally to 8-1.

UP led 54-42 in the fourth period before Ateneo unleashed a 12-0 spurt capped by Jared Brown’s jumper to tie the game at 54-all, 6:02 remaining.

But the Maroons kept their composure to avert a meltdown as Harold Alarcon sank a much-needed triple for a 57-54 edge.

Although the Blue Eagles gained some momentum at this point to pull themselves within just two on a huge Jason Credo and-1 play, the Fighting Maroons responded with back-to-back baskets to stay ahead. 

With 42.9 seconds to go, Mason Amos returned to the floor for Ateneo and fired a three-pointer, 63-60, but Abadiano eventually iced the game with two freebies. 

“Siguro it took a while din offensively. First quarter [we were tied], but defense namin it held up ‘yong Ateneo and we were more patient defensively and were really executing in the fourth quarter. At least nakabalik kami sa game,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde. 

Brown paced Ateneo with 18 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting from deep, while Joseph Obasa tallied a double-double outing of 11 points and 16 rebounds. 

The Blue Eagles absorbed their second straight loss as they slip to 4-5 in the standings.