UP secured their three consecutive wins and a morale-booster as CJ Cansino scored 14 points and five rebounds, while Ricci Rivero chipped in 15 points built on three triples, alongside three boards, Zavier Lucero got 13 points and eight rebounds, and RC Calimag had season-best 10 points and three boards.

It was an easy blowout that UP gave to UST as the Katipunan squad jumped to an early 26-11 lead in the first frame and ended the first half of the game after widening the gap with a 20-point lead, 53-33.

UST was unable to weather the storm of the mighty Maroons and only cut the gap to 17 points, 47-64, in the third frame until Cansino drilled a 7-0 run for a 71-47 lead.

UP is currently sitting with an 11-2 record as Calimag led the team with a game-high gap to 33, 92-59 after a layup with 2:48 ticks left in the last quarter, and thereafter secured the victory and a ticket for a square off against Ateneo.

Migs Pangilinan paced UST with a game-high 21 points in 22 minutes on 5-of-12 shooting from three, while former UP high school prospect Jordi Gomez de Liaño added a career-high nine points on a 3-of-8 clip from deep.

UP and Ateneo, who are now both secured for the final four bid, will face off on Sunday, while UST will try to bounce back as they face FEU on the same day.

The Scores:

UP 96 – Rivero 15, Cansino 14, Lucero 13, Calimag 10, Cagulangan 9, Tamayo 7, Alarcon 7, Fortea 6, Diouf 6, Spencer 3, Ramos 2, Webb 2, Catapusan 2, Lina 0, Abadiano 0.

UST 67 – Pangilinan 21, Gomez de Liaño 9, Mantua 6, Ando 6, Manalang 5, Fontanilla 4, Cabañero 4, Manaytay 4, Concepcion 3, Herrera 3, Canoy 2, Samudio 0, Yongco 0, Gesalem 0.