The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers outlasted the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 98-89, in a triple-overtime thriller in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tourney Saturday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
It took seven total periods, but the Tigers kept their composure as the Blue Eagles ran out of fuel in the third overtime.
Nic Cabanero powered UST with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 43 minutes and 43 seconds of play. Former Ateneo guard Forth Padrigao and rookie center Collins Akowe chipped in 20 markers apiece.
After a split from the line by Akowe and a late turnover by Jared Bahay forced the third overtime, UST ran away almost immediately, taking an insurmountable 94-85 lead after a jumper by Akowe.
Jaden Lazo finally put Ateneo on the board, but a 3-pointer by Kyle Paranada gave the Tigers a double-digit lead, 97-87, with 1:33 left.
Ateneo still tried to recover, but timely misses by Lazo and Kymani Ladi made it harder for them.
A split from the line by Akowe iced the game, as a pair of free throws by Ladi set the final score.
After the Tigers trailed by as much as 12 points in the first quarter, they quickly clawed out of the hole and took the lead in the second quarter after an and-one play by Cabanero, 31-30, setting the stage to a back-and-forth game.
In the fourth quarter, Padrigao hit a booming triple to send the game to overtime, as neither side could break free.
In the first extension period, the two teams traded treys as Padrigao’s triple made it level at 72-all.
But a clutch shot by Gelo Crisostomo gave UST a 74-72 advantage. However, a jumper by Shawn Tuano equalized things anew.
Cabanero tried to win it for the Espana-based squad, but missed, setting up a Ladi triple that could have won it. However, the latter’s shot was blocked by Crisostomo as time expired.
Come the second overtime, UST took control, going up 80-75 after Akowe’s freebies.
But Bahay sparked Ateneo with a 10-4 run, capped by a Joshua Lazaro jumper, to help Ateneo ahead, 85-84.
Akowe, though, was be fouled in the next possession and he split his charities to tie things up once again.
Ladi and Cabanero then traded misses, as the game went to the third overtime.
Crisostomo had his best game of the season thus far, with 18 points and 17 rebounds to go with four assists and a block for UST. Mark Llemit added seven markers.
Bahay powered Ateneo with 17 points and six rebounds. Ladi and Dom Escobar chipped in 14 and 13 markers, respectively, while Tuano and Divine Adili tallied 12 and 10 points.
UST rose to 4-1, while Ateneo, which lost two games in a row, dropped to 4-2.