Ricci Rivero Flies High As UP Shackles NU

Ricci Rivero Flies High As UP Shackles NU 

Ricci Rivero had all-game brilliance as UP beats NU 80-70. The high-flying Rivero broke down the defense of his guards with his Pete Maravich-esque dribbling skills scoring 19 points while adding 3 boards, 4 dimes, 2 steals and 1 block. NU had an ideal start at 6-0 but UP quickly caught up with them. UP still trailed 13-14 through 3-1/2 minutes left in the first quarter when Jonas Tibayan and a two point Guard combo of Ernest Felicilda and Steve Nash Enriquez combined to make it a 25-20 lead for NU going to the second quarter. So this was when Rivero went on a scoring spree making flashy layups as the Fighting Maroons push the ball hard. Terrence Fortea and Joel Cagulangan took advantage of the short guards of NU and shot over them. UP has now taken the lead with 13-2 run at 40-34. However baskets from Michael Malonzo and Enriquez cut the lead at halftime buzzer 42-39. It was a close 3rd quarter with NU getting the lead at 49-44 with John Lloyd Clemente and Malonzo towing the Bulldogs. UP had a finishing kick from Carl Tamayo, CJ Cansino and Zavier Lucero, they lead at halftime 55-53. Rivero shoots a 3, Lucero hits a jumper, Rivero scores on a drive and James Spencer hits a jumpshot as the Maroons start the 4th quarter with an 11-0 blast making the score 66-53 in favor of UP. Mahinay stops the bleeding while John Galinato and Reyland Torres contributes to plug away at the lead, the score now 68-60 UP leads with time winding down 5 minutes left in the game. UP defense held down NU just keeping them at bay and at 74-67 with 3 minutes left, Felicilda of NU was assessed a flagrant foul and that took out the fight from NU. UP ices the game at 80-70. Rivero paced the Maroons with 19, Tamayo 13 and Cagulangan. The Bulldogs had Malonzo scoring 11, Torres 10 and Clemente 9. Imports were rather non-existent in this game. NU's Issa Gaye was out from an injury while UP's Mallick Diouf received little playing time.