UP Maroons dominate National University 89-62 in UAAP

The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons secured a dominant victory over National University in their men's basketball game during UAAP Season 87 on Wednesday.

Playing at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, UP triumphed with an 89-62 scoreline, extending its winning streak to three games and showcasing strong teamwork led by sophomore Mark Belmonte who scored a game-high 14 points in just over 15 minutes of play.

Belmonte set the tone for UP's dominance, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the first half where the team enjoyed a comfortable 53-26 lead at halftime and led by as many as 31 points early on.

National University struggled without injured Mo Diassana and allowed 50 rebounds to UP's 40, contributing to their poor performance with only Jake Figueroa scoring in double figures for NU with 11 points.

UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon emphasized the team's improvement through film review and consistent practice, highlighting a balanced attack from multiple players including JD Cagulangan who contributed 13 points and four assists.