It wasn't UP's most impressive win, but it was an inspiring one nevertheless as the Fighting Maroons beat the NU Bulldogs 64-55 as both teams closed out its campaign in Season 67 of the UAAP at the Philsports Arena.

Team Captian Toti Almeda and swingmen Josant Cervantes and Jireh Ibanes ended their tour of duty for the Maroons by stopping the Bulldogs' offense while combining for nine of UP's sixteen- fourth quarter points. The trio, who were playing their last UAAP season, got a lot of help from big men Abby Santos and Nestor David, as well as from guards Marvin Cruz and Vicmel Epres.

The Bulldogs actually started strong, taking early leads at 2-0 and 4-2, the last lead at the seven-forty three mark in the first quarter. But UP, behind Cervantes, Almeda and Santos dropped a 7-0 bomb on the Bulldogs to take a 9-4 lead halfway in the first and never looked back. Though the Bulldogs threatened to close the gap, someone from the Maroons side would step up and leave the Bulldogs behind eating dust.

NU's Alex Miclat, Cesar Estolano and Behn Balijon gave the Bulldogs gallery something to cheer about, but their efforts proved futile as support from their more illustrious teamates such as Edwin Asoro, Jonathan Fernandez and Rey Mendoza were far and few in between. Incidentally, Mendoza also played out his final UAAP game scoring two points and grabbing five rebounds.

UP thus ended its 67th UAAP Season by winning seven out of its' last eight games to take fifth place while NU ended its campaign with a dismal 1-13 record. The Maroons' 7-7 record is a game behind eventual fourth placer UE Warriors, and proved to everybody that UP is not a Final Four pretender but a Final Four contender.

In Juniors Basketball, the UPIS Junior Maroons outsteadied the NU Bullpups, 68-56 to strengthen its place in the Final Four.

The Maroons took an early 11-3 lead behind the shooting of Miggy Maniego, Earl De Peralta, DA Olan and Alvin Villanueva. But the Bullpups ended the first quarter strong with Rey Calingasin scoring eight of NU's twelve first quarter points to cut UPIS' lead at 15-12. The story in the second quarter was somewhat similar to the previous period as NU hang on the coatails of the Junior Maroons.

The second half saw UPIS pulling away with JM Aranas, De Peralta and Maniego shooting from behind the arc. The Maroons led by as much as fourteen to take the starch out of the Bullpups.

With the win, UPIS now sports an 8-3 record to hold on second place, a game ahead of Ateneo. Both UPIS and Ateneo will meet on Sunday September 12 at the Araneta Coliseum to determine their place in the Juniors Final Four.

Notes: The Fighting Maroons dedicated their final game of the season to Forward Bruce Quebral who missed the game so that he could be with his ailing father... One distraction during the Juniors games and non-televised games is the big screen that the TV network installed. The network always put on movies and other sports shows, which is not only a distraction to the games, but an insult to the players and coaches as well.

The Scores:

Seniors

UP 64: David 13, Santos 12, Almeda 11, Cervantes 10, Ibanes 7, Cruz 6, Epres 5, Gomez 0, Robin 0, Bienvenida 0, Ortega 0, Ferrer 0

NU 55: Miclat 12, Estolano 9, Malcontento 7, Balijon 6, Asoro 6, Mollena 4, King 4, Garcia 3, Mendoza 2, Malagueno 2, Moradas 0, D. Catamora 0, Fernandez 0, C. Catamora 0

Quarter Scores: 18-15, 36-30, 48-42, 64-55