HIGHLIGHTS: UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball games – March 29

UAAP 84 – March 29 – Curated tweets by RapplerSports

Game results

UP bucks slow start, downs UST

After a rough start, the UP Maroons turned things around in the second half to rout the UST Tigers, 98-82, and score their first win in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, March 29.  

The Maroons trailed by double figures early, 30-43, before staging a huge third-quarter comeback where they outscored the Tigers, 36-15, to pull ahead, 78-63. 

Zavier Lucero sparked the surge to finish with 18 points and 8 boards for the Maroons, who rebounded from an opening-day loss against defending champion Ateneo.

UST remained winless in two games.

(READ: UP mounts massive 3rd-quarter comeback, douses UST fire for first win)

La Salle rallies past NU for 2-0 start

Mark Nonoy came through a pivotal fourth-quarter stretch as the La Salle Green Archers turned back a tough-fighting NU Bulldogs, 59-55, to grab a share of the early lead in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, March 29.

Nonoy, the former UST standout who sat out in the opener, debuted with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Justine Baltazar also starred with 13 points and 7 boards.

The Green Archers joined defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles on top at 2-0. 

(READ: Nonoy sizzles as La Salle outlasts NU for 2-0 start)

Ateneo trips FEU, takes early 2-0 lead

Tyler Tio came out firing as the Ateneo Blue Eagles overpowered the FEU Tamaraws, 79-70, to claim the early top spot at 2-0 in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, March 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Dave Ildefonso carried the defending champions early, helping arrest a strong FEU start before Tio took over, dropping 17 points in the third quarter to help the Blue Eagles pull away for good.

The Tamaraws slipped to 1-1. 

(READ: Tyler Tio torrid triples spark Ateneo win over FEU)

Adamson whips UE

Jerom Lastimosa fueled Adamson’s hot start as the Soaring Falcons drubbed the UE Red Warriors, 82-66, for their first triumph in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, March 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

(READ: Adamson crushes UE for breakthrough win)

Preview

With a highly anticipated and extremely long kickoff day now in the books, UAAP Season 84 moves along with its usual quadruple-header schedule on Tuesday, March 29.

UE (0-1) vs Adamson (0-1)

Starting off the day at 10 am is a battle for a breakthrough win between the UE Red Warriors and the Adamson Soaring Falcons.

Although winless, both squads showed grit and skill in their opening day losses as UE nearly upset La Salle, 66-71, while Adamson just fell short against NU, 69-71.

Jerom Lastimosa and Didat Hanapi will get another chance to strut their stuff as they take on Nico Paranada, Harvey Pagsanjan, and the rest of the young Red Warriors.

Ateneo (1-0) vs FEU (1-0)

In arguably the most must-watch game of the day, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will put their 27-game winning streak on the line against the loaded FEU Tamaraws at 1 pm.

Dave Ildefonso, already making the most of his homecoming, will take on a star-studded backcourt led by RJ Abarrientos and possibly the debuting LJay Gonzales.

Ange Kouame and Emman Ojuola will also butt heads in a matchup of top-tier reinforcements.

NU (1-0) vs La Salle (1-0)

Moving on, the La Salle Green Archers will try to keep their winning run going against the young NU Bulldogs at 4 pm.

Super recruit Schonny Winston is again expected to take center stage alongside MVP candidate Justine Baltazar and star transferee Evan Nelle.

On the other side, homegrown head coach Jeff Napa will bank on a handful of elite prospects like Juniors MVP Jake Figueroa, early revelation Janjan Felicilda, and key holdover John Lloyd Clemente.

UP (0-1) vs UST (0-1)

Finally, the UP Fighting Maroons will shoot for a bounce-back win against the rebuilding UST Growling Tigers in the 7 pm day-ender.

UP star transferee CJ Cansino is expected to keep his strong start going against his former team, no less, alongside Malick Diouf, Ricci Rivero, and the rest of the young Maroon guards.

Meanwhile, UST will again bank on Joshua Fontanilla, Sherwin Concepcion, and rookie Jordi Gomez de Liaño as it gets back up from a 25-point mauling in the hands of FEU.

– Rappler.com