The Fighting Maroons streaked to their sixth straight win but it was not an easy feat as the team was behind during the first half of the game.

Zavier Lucero rescued the team as he erupted in the third quarter and continued to dominate until the last frame, leading the Diliman squad with his career-high 27 points, 12 boards, and three steals.

Still, the Tamaraws tried to answer back immediately in the fourth quarter as Xyrus Torres fired a fading three, closing the gap, 73-76, with 1:36 remaining, but the Fil-Am high-flyer Lucero did not falter as he threw a three.

Carl Tamayo and Joel Cagulangan followed Lucero with their big plays, denying FEU’s defense. Ricci Rivero ended the game with a layup securing the win for the Fighting Maroons with 14.1 ticks left. 

Tamayo paced UP with his 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while Rivero scored eight of his 10 points in the last five minutes, on top of his six boards and three dimes.

LJ Gonzales finished with 20 points and eight rebounds while Emmanuel Ojuola added 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead FEU.

The Scores:

UP 83 – Lucero 27, Tamayo 12, Rivero 10, Cansino 7, Diouf 7, Fortea 6, Alarcon 5, Cagulangan 4, Abadiano 3, Spencer 2, Lina 0, Catapusan 0.

FEU 76 – Gonzales 20, Ojuola 17, Torres 17, Alforque 9, Abarrientos 8, Sandagon 3, Tempra 2, Sleat 0, Sajonia 0, Bienes 0, Celzo 0.

Quarters: 14-18, 31-32, 58-50, 83-76.