Right off the bat, the Fighting Maroons got off to a strong start as they took advantage of the Bulldogs and drilled a double-digit lead, 23-11, after Rivero’s three-pointer with 2:20 to play in the opening period.

UP kept the game under control as they ended the first half, 42-35 until the Bulldogs crawled back in the third frame with a 23-11 run for a deadlock at 58-all following Reyland Torres’ three at the 1:10 mark.

But the Fighting Maroons rejected the sudden surge from NU as they made a 10-0 run, reclaiming the double lead, 78-66, at the last quarter and further widened the gap after Lucero fired a twisting jumper, 82-68 with 1:25 left to play.

Carl Tamayo led the team with his best game to date with 21 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and two assists, while Zavier Lucero and Ricci Rivero delivered 16 points apiece, and Cagulangan contributed seven points, eight dimes, three rebounds, and one steal.

NU fell to a 4-4 record as John Lloyd Clemente paced the team with 18 points and three rebounds, while Reyland Torres scored 15 points, four boards, four steals, and two assists, and Shaun Ildefonso with 11 points and four rebounds.

There will be no collegiate competitions during the Holy Week break; teams will be back on April 19 as UP and FEU Tamaraws will square off, while NU will try to bounce back as they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on the same day.

The scores:

UP 84 – Tamayo 21, Rivero 16, Lucero 16, Cagulangan 7, Diouf 7, Alarcon 5, Webb 5, Fortea 4, Abadiano 3, Spencer 0, Catapusan 0.

NU 76 – Clemente 18, Torres 15, Ildefonso 11, Malonzo 9, Minerva 8, Felicilda 5, Gaye 4, Joson 2, Figueroa 2, Manansala 2, Tibayan 0, Enriquez 0, Mahinay 0.

Quarter Scores: 26-14; 42-35; 62-58; 84-76.