#FilOil2019: No Bright, no problem as Manzo and Rivero carry UP past Arellano

SAN JUAN -- Capping off the Seniors division tripleheaders, UP bucked their manpower problems as they tower over Arellano, 78-69 for their first win of the FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup Tuesday evening.

Still smarting after their opening day loss to San Beda last Sunday, Bo Perasol's Fighting Maroons only have ten players on the tip off with reigning UAAP MVP Bright Akhuetie being the notable absentees, alongside the Gomez de Liaño twins.

But the new trio of Jun Manzo, Ricci Rivero and Kobe Paras carried the load for State U to even their Group A card at 1-1.

Manzo and Rivero fired for 19 markers each but it was the junior guard from Cebu who got the more efficient game, adding five rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals to his account.

Kobe Paras added 16 for UP as the trio logged on 85 minutes on the court combined.

Cholo Martin's coaching debut with the Chiefs ended on wrong side of the game, but they will take a lot of positives as they went toe-to-toe with their much heralded counterparts with four deadlocks in the game a proof of their competence, in which it will come in handy once the NCAA season tips off in which they host.

Justin Araña lead AU with 16 points off the bench, while Kent Salado had 10 points on his return from an MCL injury that kept him out of the college season last year.

The scores:

UP 78 -- Manzo 19, Rivero 19, Paras 16, Murell 8, Webb 5, Spencer 4, Gob 4, Prado 3, Longa 0, Gozum 0

Arellano 69 -- Araña 16, Bayla 14, Alcoriza 14, Salado 10, Segura 6, Concepcion 4, Sablan 3, Santos 2, Espiritu 0, Gayosa 0

Quarter scores: 25-18, 38-35, 59-56, 78-69

(Photo by JF Bautista/FilOil FlyingV Sports)