Spencer sizzles as UP boosts twice-to-beat semis bid with rout of FEU

MANILA, Philippines – James Spencer was a man on a mission for the UP Fighting Maroons as they overpowered the FEU Tamaraws for their seventh straight win in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament, 73-59, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, November 17.

Spencer dropped a career-high 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field for the league-leading Fighting Maroons, who improved further their chances of securing a twice-to-beat Final Four bonus with a 10-1 slate.

Malick Diouf, the reigning UAAP Player of the Week, imposed his will down low and recorded a monster double-double of 11 points and 20 rebounds, while Carl Tamayo added 10 markers and 7 boards for the Fighting Maroons.

Despite coming off a long two-week FIBA break, the league-leading Fighting Maroons showed no signs of rust and quickly jumped to a hot start, building a massive 16-1 advantage over the Tamaraws midway through the opening frame off a triple by JD Cagulangan.

UP, however, failed to take care of its early 15-point cushion as FEU uncorked a huge 17-3 run late in the period to pull back within just 2, 18-20.

Unfortunately for the Tamaraws, their comeback attempt went for naught as Spencer suddenly caught fire and unloaded 12 of his 19 points in the final four minutes of the first half to push the Fighting Maroons’ lead back to double figures at halftime, 43-32.

UP never looked back from that point on, even extending its double-digit cushion to its largest at 21 points, 71-50, thanks to Spencer’s fourth long bomb of the game with under two minutes remaining in the lopsided affair.

“After a long break, at least we started well in this game, we started strong,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.

“Especially in our defense in the first part, we really started strong,” he added.

Kyle Bautista topscored for the Tamaraws – who skidded to a 4-7 record – with 12 points, while Cholo Anonuevo had 10.

UP tries to continue its winning ways when it takes on the La Salle Green Archers on Sunday, November 20 at 6:30 pm, while FEU hopes to snap its two-game skid when it faces the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the 11 am curtain-raiser.

The Scores

UP 73 – Spencer 19, Diouf 11, Tamayo 10, Abadiano 9, Lucero 8, Cagulangan 6, Alarcon 6, Galinato 3, Ramos 1, Gonzales 0, Calimag 0, Lina 0, Eusebio 0, Torculas 0, Andrews 0.

FEU 59 – Bautista 12, Anonuevo 10, Tchuente 9, Gonzales 9, Torres 7, Sleat 7, Alforque 3, Sajonia 2, Sandagon 0, Tempra 0, Ona 0, Bagunu 0.

Quarters: 22-18, 43-32, 58-42, 73-59.

– Rappler.com