Maroons off to flying start

MANILA, Philippines — Host University of the Philippines finished what the Eraserheads, its iconic alumni band, started by declawing rival Ateneo, 77-61, to kick off its redemption tour with a bang in the UAAP Season 87 opener yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Drawing energy and inspiration from the legendary rock stars, the Fighting Maroons turned the jets on in the second quarter to build a double-digit lead then unleashed a gripping 10-2 start in the third for the telling blow on the Blue Eagles in Round 1 of the fabled “Battle of Katipunan.”

More than 12,000 fans witnessed the triumph that propelled UP, a finalist in the last three seasons, to a perfect start in its hosting rights and the ultimate goal of bringing back the crown to Diliman after a heartbreaking finale collapse against La Salle last season.

JD Cagulangan led the pullaway to finish with a near triple-double of 17 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds while Francis Lopez put on a personal 5-0 run late in Ateneo’s fightback for 14 points highlighted by a thunderous dunk.

Prized recruit Quentin Millora-Brown also impressed in his debut with 17 rebounds, seven points and two assists in only 24 minutes of play for UP, which led by as many as 18 points.

“I thought we started tight in the first half. Then we started to move the ball around until we got the rhythm we wanted. Nakuha namin ‘yung confidence namin as a team,” said coach Goldwin Monteverde.

The Fighting Maroons – albeit the heavy favorites that they were – did as they rode the Blue Eagles’ coattails in the first quarter, 16-17, until Cagulangan took over.

As UP took control at the turn with a 40-30 lead, a bevy of Fighting Maroons in Jacob Bayla (7), Dikachi Ududo (7) and Harold Alarcon (7) joined the party to extend the gap to 50-32 only for the Blue Eagles to nearly strike within striking distance.

Ateneo zeroed in on to 54-62 in the last five minutes behind sensational rookie Jared Bahay, who received boos right off the bat after taking a u-turn in his commitment from UP to Ateneo in the offseason, before Lopez slammed the door to restore order at 69-54 heading home.

Bahay, the CESAFI MVP, put up 13 points, five rebounds and four assists while Josh Lazaro (11) and Shawn Tuano (11) chipped in coverage in the tough debut for the young Ateneo unit in transition after a streak of six straight finals appearances.

The Fighting Maroons’ win came on the heels of the E-Heads’ throwback performance, who serenaded the students, fans, alumni, coaches and officials of the eight member schools in an electrifying opening ceremony.