Mark Belmonte leads UP to dominant win over NU

Mark Belmonte's exceptional performance fueled the University of the Philippines' (UP) dominant 89-62 victory over National University, extending UP's unbeaten streak to three games in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.

Belmonte, a sophomore forward, showcased his team's depth by scoring a game-high 14 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting in just 15 minutes.

He attributed his success to the trust given by coach Goldwin Monteverde and the team's deep roster, emphasizing his readiness to contribute whenever called upon.

Belmonte's scoring, particularly his 12 points in the first half, set the pace for UP's commanding performance, which saw them lead by as much as 39 points.

This victory marks the most lopsided win of the season thus far for the Fighting Maroons, who are seeking to improve on their runner-up finishes in the past two seasons.

Belmonte has been a starter for UP in their last three games, filling in for Aldous Torculas, who has now returned from an ankle injury.