Harold Alarcon took over down the stretch to give the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons a hard-fought victory over the skidding University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 89-88, in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Alarcon scored UP’s eight final points, including the game-winning jumper, to help the Fighting Maroons win three straight games in the season while sending USTm who shot 52 free throws in the game, to its fourth straight defeat.
The UP star finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals on a 9-of-18 shooting. Rey Remogat chipped in 19 markers, three boards, three dimes and two steals.
After UP trailed by as much as 15 points, 36-21, the Maroons found their rhythm in the third, going up by eight, 62-54, after an Alarcon jumper.
UST, though, climbed out of that hole and get the lead anew, 75-74, with 6:41 remaining.
Mark Belmonte then pushed the Diliman-based squad ahead once again, 77-75, with a triple on the other end.
The two teams traded baskets in the next minutes, as Collins Akowe and Alarcon dueled.
After a deuce by Akowe gave the Tigers an 86-84 lead, Alarcon hit a booming 3-pointer with 1:10 left to push UP ahead, 87-86.
A pair of free throws by Amiel Acido, who was fouled while going hard to the bucket, pushed UST to an 88-87 advantage.
But Alarcon toyed with the defense of Mark Llemit, as he hit crossovers before spinning to a jumper for the go-ahead bucket to set the final score, 89-88.
UST, though, still had chances to go for the win, but misses by Acido and a turnover by Akowe iced the UP victory.
Miguel Yniguez produced 11 markers while Belmonte had nine for the Maroons.
Akowe flexed his muscles inside with 26 points and 16 rebounds, but he made just half of his 20 free throws in more than 38 minutes of play. Nic Cabanero backstopped with 18 markers, four boards and two dimes.
UP was called for 39 personal fouls in the game, resulting in 52 free throws for the Tigers. But UST made just 28 of their attempts, compared to the Maroons’ 13-of-19 clip.
The defending champions thus rose to solo second with a 7-3 win-loss record, while the Espana-based squad dropped to a 5-5 slate, tied with Adamson and Ateneo.