WARNING SHOT

Maroons flaunt depth, talent in opening-day victory over Eagles; coach says they’ll get even better

Francis Lopez (with ball) went into his high-flying act late in the game.

They represent three levels of University of the Philippines’ experience:

JD Cagulangan, the one-time championship hero and celebrated veteran. Francis Lopez, the athletic sophomore coming off an impressive rookie season. And Quentin Millora-Brown, the one-and-done freshman unsurprisingly wise beyond his UAAP playing status.

They came together in the Maroons’ opening-day victory Saturday night and run to the ground a spirited Ateneo squad that has yet to unveil its identity.

If UP looked scary in its 77-61 victory at Smart Araneta Coliseum, this will send even more chills down opponents’ spine:

“I believe that each one did their role in helping the team win the game,” UP coach Goldwin Monteverde said. “And for me, as we progress, our newcomers will improve more.”

“What’s important is we keep on improving the way we play together—that’s our goal as the tournament progresses,” he added.

Cagulangan was Ateneo’s biggest headache. The fiery guard, who launched himself into campus stardom when he nailed the game-winner that ended UP’s long wait for a second UAAP title three seasons ago, finished with a game-high 17 points that he polished with 10 assists and seven rebounds.

JD Cagulangan (with ball) was scorching from the field for UP. —PHOTOS BY UAAP MEDIA

“It might be my day, it might be the day of my other teammates so I’ll just do [my best] and play my role,” Cagulangan said. “We just want to win so whoever gets good stats, we are happy for him.”

Lopez, a product of Ateneo high school, delivered shattering dunks in the stretch and came up with 14 points, most of which came from free throws, and six rebounds to help UP start its return to the top.

Millora-Brown finished with 17 rebounds in his UP debut, adding seven points.

Quentin Millora-Brown (right) also anchored UP’s defense.

“I think it was an exciting first game for me. I am glad that we got the win ’cause that’s the most important thing. As a team we just want to keep winning and I think that [we gotta keep] improving as the season goes along,” Millora-Brown, a product of The Citadel in the US NCAA Division I, said.

“[My]focus was on just playing as a team. The rebounds and points come … We have a really talented team so for me I just focus on winning, whatever it takes to win, whatever the team asks of me on each day,” he added.

The Maroons managed to find production up and down its roster, with the starters-bench output nearly even at 40-37.

Jacob Bayla (right) helped UP with scoring off the bench.

UP started the third quarter with a 10-2 run to create the biggest lead of the game, 50-32, and it was pretty much over by then, with the Maroons staying in control despite the Eagles’ attempts at starting a rally.

“We faced a challenge in the first half and after our huddle at halftime, we were told how to overcome that challenge and we responded well and controlled the game until the end,” the veteran Cagulangan said after finishing with a 57.1-percent clip from the floor.

The Maroons will have enough time to come up with a stronger performance. They won’t play until next week, when they face University of the East. INQ