Aldous Torculas’ career game came at a perfect time as University of the Philippines continued to inch closer to a twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball Final Four. With the race getting tighter in the elimination round, the Fighting Maroons obliterated Far Eastern University, 81-64, to eliminate the Tamaraws from playoff contention at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

At the intermission, it looked like it would be a neck-and-neck affair with UP holding a slim 34-27 lead but the third frame would prove to be pivotal for the Season 85 finalists. The Tamaraws fell victim to a quarter-opening 14-7 UP run that pushed the Fighting Maroons’ advantage to 14.

The fourth quarter proved to be much of the same as UP pushed the lead to 19, 66-47, the biggest of the game after a Chicco Briones jumper at the eight-minute mark. Francis Lopez finished just a rebound shy of a double-double in the victory with 12 points and nine boards while Harold Alarcon also poured in 11 markers of his own.

The Tamaraws bow out of playoff contention with a 3-9 card but not without the efforts of graduating guard LJay Gonzales, who finished with a game-high 20 points. Jorick Bautista also scattered 17 markers and five rebounds but to no avail.