Juan Gomez De Liaño leads UP to BBI win vs MLQU

MANILA, Philippines – Juan Gomez De Liaño rescued a Ricci Rivero-less University of the Philippines Fighting Marrons Team B with an end-game explosion to steer his side to an 88-75 win in the sulit.ph BBI tournament at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.

With the MLQU Stallions breathing down UP’s necks, 78-70, with 4:10 in the final frame, Gomez De Liaño, playing his first Team B match in the tourney, scored the Fighting Maroons’ next eight points and assisted Cameroonian center Bruel Kamga on his twinner. The super sophomore also rejected Ryan Sual’s attempt as MLQU mustered only two points in that span.

UP built a 73-60 lead by third quarter’s end, but saw MLQU battle back with a 10-0 run to start the fourth period. 

Then came Gomez De Liaño’s heroics. 

The Fighting Maroons ruled the boards and scored 20 second chance points and a whopping 52 points inside the paint. Yet for their 52-43 advantage in rebounds, the Stallions were able to keep pace by outrunning UP to the tune of 29-13 in fastbreak points.

Gomez De Liaño led the Diliman-based squad with 22 points while adding eight assists and six rebounds. His presence gave the other UP starters a lot of space to operate and for the first time this tournament saw a more balanced scoring spree for their team. Felix Jaboneta added 14 points while Kamga finished with 12 points and seven boards. Jayboy Gob and Jaggie Gregorio chipped in nine points apiece.

For MLQU, it was all Sual who topscored with 30 points while center Sam Peralta chipped in 14 markers and seven caroms. 

The sulit.ph BBI tourney is a showcase for collegiate Team B squads filled with UAAP and NCAA Team A hopefuls.