Maroons hope first win will be start of many more

MANILA, Philippines — Finally, the Fighting Maroons got over the hump.

The first of many, that is.

But the win — at the expense of the UE Red Warriors, 75-71— is extra special, according to head coach Bo Perasol. It proved that UP can actually win games, he added.

“We hope we can capitalize on this. There's still 10 more games,” Perasol said.

Leading the charge for the Maroons was skipper Jett Manuel, who finished 17 points. He was joined by Andres Desiderio, who tallied another 17.

Andres Desiderio of UP | Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

“I still know that there are 10 games left. I just believe that there is still a light at the end of the tunnel,” Manuel said.

For the young Desiderio, the Maroons have finally ended the slump. And like his mentor and his teammate, he wishes for this to be a springboard for more success.

“‘Yung past three games kasi, kulang pa sa gigil,” he said. “Sana magtuloy-tuloy ito.”

Desiderio had the brightest statline with a double-double in 17 points and 10 boards. But it was Christian Moralde who put away the Warriors, who, for their part, lived up to their name —pesky, gritty and won’t go away easily. 

Christian Dave Moralde | Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

The two teams knotted the score 10 times in the game.

The 6-foot-2 forward sank two free throws in the winding moments of the game to put the Derrick Pumaren-mentored squad away for good.

“We're one hump over,” Perasol said. “Ang iisipin nalang namin ngayon ang susunod na laro.”

“I have my guys here who have been very consistent. They kept on going on,” he added.

"There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

That tunnel extends to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, whom the Maroons will take on this coming Sunday.