Abe Santos led all scorers with 18 points but it was Nestor David who delivered the biggest blows when the Maroons unleashed a huge second-quarter run that clipped the Eagles’ wings.
"Our intensity was really up there siguro dahil iba talaga pag Ateneo ang kalaban tumataas talaga ang intensity namin," said UP coach Lito Vergara, who steered his team to a pair of wins over Emilio Aguinaldo College and Letran recently.
Fonacier, sidelined for almost seven months after sustaining an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury late in the 2004 UAAP season, saw action for 21 minutes but missed all his four shots. He had two rebounds though.
Earlier, University of the East leaned on its inside strength to beat a stubborn University of Cebu, 78-69, and barge into the quarterfinals of this event staking P500,000 worth of scholarship grants to the champion.
A few days after co-starring with fellow rookie transferee Nicasio Custodio in a 60-55 win over San Beda, Marc Borboran delivered the goods anew as he erupted for 18 points which he highlighted with an alley-hoop slam off a nifty pass from Earl Saguindel.
Borboran, who played a couple of years for Jose Rizal in the NCAA before moving out, was seven-of-12 from the field and had seven rebounds, three assists and a block as the Red Warriors forged another knockout duel, this time against the Perpetual Help Altas on Tuesday.
But more than Borboran’s heroics, it was rebounding that sealed it for the Mendiola-based dribblers.
"Our weakness is always in rebounds. But today we rebounded well," said UE coach Dindo Pumaren, referring to UE’s 54 boards as against UC’s 38.
Mentored by former Alaska shooter Rhoel Gomez, the Webmasters were spearheaded by Lloyd Ortiguessa’s 17 points but were just too predictable shooting jumpers from the perimeter.
Watched and cheered by alumnus Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel Beer, UC, which made it here following wins over Western Visayas champion West Negros College and University of Southern Philippines, fought UE close in the first half with razor-sharp outside shooting.
In fact, the bulk of the Webmasters points came from the outside, including 10 triples -— three by Orvelle Saludsod and two each by Ortiguesa and Allan Abellanosa.
But Pumaren made key adjustments in the final half by stretching their defense a little bit outside that enabled the Warriors to take control of the game.