Akhuetie leads UP past NU in Milcu Got Skills Elite Showcase

MANILA, Philippines – The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons may be floundering in the UAAP, but their future is bright with those coming up on their Team B.

Bright Akhuetie scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to go with one assist, one steal and three blocks in leading UP past National University Juniors B, 71-57, at the Lyceum gym in Intramuros, Manila on Sunday.

The Maroons got off to a blazing start and never looked back behind Akhuetie. Ervin Santiago, the Fil-Canadian recruit who was discovered while playing for Crossover Canada in the NBTC National High School Championships, added 14 points.

Akhuetie, who transferred to UP from Perpetual Help after last year’s NCAA season, will be eligible to play in the UAAP for Season 81.

UP now paces the 14-team U-25 Division with an 8-1 record — their only blemish coming against University of Batangas, which is currently in fifth place with a 5-3 slate.

In other Milcu Got Skills action, Jose Rizal University’s Team B came from behind to deal Colegio de San Juan de Letran a stinging 63-56 loss. The Knights, who are led by transferees Bonbon Batiller (from the University of the East), Christian Fajarito (from the College of Saint Benilde) and Larry Muyang (from De La Salle University), led almost the whole way.

But a scorching rally by the Heavy Bombers saw them eke out the win and hike their U-25 record to 4-6. Meanwhile, the sorry loss saw Letran drop to 7-3, two matches behind pace-setting UP.

Dave Tecson led JRU with 18 points.

For the U-19 Division, Team Delta, led by Hanz Bautista who garnered an impressive double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds, defeated CODBR, 66-58. Team Delta moved up to 4-3 in the standings while CODBR dropped to 3-4 National University paces the division with a 5-1 record.