UP obliterates La Salle in masterful Game 1 win, nears UAAP title
At A Glance
- After a tight affair in the first quarter, UP relied on its defense and limited La Salle's usual offensive production, with Season 86 runaway MVP Kevin Quiambao held to only 11 points.
University of the Philippines inched closer to the title in the most lopsided Game 1 victory in the Final Four era, 97-67, against De La Salle in their best-of-three finals clash in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Fighting Maroons showed no letup throughout the match to move on cusp of the title, and, in turn, ended the Green Archers’ nine-game surge.

After a tight affair in the first quarter, UP relied on its defense and limited La Salle’s usual offensive production, with Season 86 runaway MVP Kevin Quiambao held to only 11 points.
Alarcon carried out a team-high 21 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting from the inside and made eight of his nine freebies on the line.
Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez, for his part, contributed a huge double-double outing of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
JD Cagulangan and Gerry Abadiano chipped in 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, Malick Diouf and Aldous Torculas were equally relentless on their defensive end and grabbed 15 and 10 rebounds to go with nine points each.
The UP side pulled away entirely and for good in the second half following CJ Cansino’s last-minute three-pointer in the third quarter to give the Fighting Maroons a huge 77-53 advantage.
There was no lack in effort from any Fighting Maroon in the fourth quarter as they were dominant through and through.
“I guess ‘yung team really executed the game plan. We just have to sustain this (since) it’s not won in just one game, it’s seroes. We just have to know what to work on and be ready for them in the next game,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Mike Phillips led all scorers in the first half with 12 points to eventually finish with 19 points and even flirted with a double-double after grabbing nine rebounds.