Reigning MVP Malick Diouf lifted University of the Philippines past feisty University of the East, 79-72, to help book its fifth straight Final Four appearance in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The Fighting Maroons turned back the Red Warriors in the endgame to bounce back from their 88-79 defeat against the De La Salle Green Archers last week and hiked their record to 9-2 in the standings.

More importantly, the State University has secured the first spot in the semifinals.

Diouf, whose services was sorely missed by UP in its previous loss, returned exactly as he was expected to and delivered a double-double performance of 19 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting to go along with 15 rebounds. 

CJ Cansino scored 17 markers of his own. 

UP had to buck a slow opening quarter after trailing UE, 17-21, before battling back in the tight affair for a 43-38 lead at the break. 

In the third quarter, however, the Red Warriors nearly recovered from a 13-point deficit as the Fighting Maroons held on to a 58-55 separation. 

After some closely contested second half, UE finally knotted the game at 69-all following a Jack Cruz-Dumont triple at the 3:44 mark of the final quarter. 

But Diouf and Cansino scored four straight points for UP to stay ahead before Cruz-Dumont fired another huge shot from beyond the arc to pull UE within just one, 73-72. 

With under a minute to go, Abdul Sawat failed to convert a UP turnover after missing the lead-taking layup. 

At this point, the Fighting Maroons displayed tight defense as they scored the last six points of the match. 

Cruz-Dumont delivered a team-high 19 points in the losing end and connected on five of 10 three-pointers and seven of 14 overall. 

Rookie of the Year frontrunner Precious Momowei scored 15 points with 14 rebounds, while Rey Remogat, who reset his career-best to 34 points in the previous game, managed another double-double outing of 12 points and 10 assists. 

As it stands, UE is on the brink of elimination with a 4-7 slate as its fate also relies on the results of other matches.