Maroons, Patriots stun rivals in Fr. Martin Cup

MANILA, Philippines -- The University of the Philippines Maroons and newcomer Manila Patriotic School stunned separate rivals and made their presence felt in the start of the 20th Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament Sunday at the St. Placid gym inside San Beda College-Manila.

Transferee Dave Moralde sizzled with 27 points and Kyles Lao had 18  as they led the UP Maroons to an 88-77 swamping of Division 2 Cup champion Ateneo-B Blue Eagles in the lone senior game.

The debuting MPS Patriots, who are playing their first interschool competition, turned to four prolific teammates to outplay the San Beda-B Red Cubs, 93-86, in overtime in the junior action.

Moralde, who is coming out of a yearlong residency after leaving San Beda two years ago, banged in 13 points in the second period.

His efforts helped the Maroons move away from a 23-21 first quarter lead, and gain a nine-point spread, 49-40, at halftime.

Two triples from Moralde in the start of the third canto helped the Maroons a take an 11-point spread in the ensuing play.

They then took a 63-52 advantage with 5:14 to go off Lao’s drive.

Marc Young tallied 16 points for MPS while teammates Kenneth Villapando and Steven Andres had 14 for MPS, which went ahead, 77-76, in the last 32.2 seconds off a drive from Andres.

But, a split free throw from Red Cubs Rob Mendoza tied the count, 77-all, with five seconds left.

The Patriots later took charge, 85-81, with 2:27 left on triples scored by Andres and Marc Ordinario.

Mendoza’s trey with 1:42 to go gave San Beda its last taste of the lead, 86-85.

But MPS managed to stay on top on repeated attacks by Andres and Villapando, 91-86, and with 42 seconds to go.