A few days ago, University of Santo Tomas was sent back to earth with their first loss in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
The Growling Tigers regained their winning touch after clawing the University of the East Red Warriors, 111-99, in their elimination round matchup Saturday afternoon at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
After winning their first two games, the Espana-based squad hit a brick wall against the still-undefeated National University Bulldogs on Wednesday.
This Saturday, though, the Tigers heated up in the second half and left the Red Warriors in the rearview mirror to win their third contest in four contests, while keeping their opponents winless.
Nic Cabanero paced UST with 22 points and eight assists, to go with three rebounds and two steals. Collins Akowe and Forth Padrigao chipped in 18 markers apiece. The former added 17 boards and three swats, while the latter tallied six dimes, six steals and three boards.
The Tigers were leading by just four, 59-55, at the half after a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Padrigao.
They waxed hot in the third quarter with a 13-3 run within a five-minute stretch to take a 72-58 lead.
UST’s advantage grew to as much as 20 points, 100-80, after a Cabanero 3-pointer.
UE tried to storm back and sliced the deficit to 11, 93-104, with about two minutes remaining, but finishing touches by Cabanero, Padrigao and Amiel Acido iced the game.
Acido and Mark Llemit produced 11 points apiece for the Tigers, who were the first team to breach 100 points in the season.
John Abate led UE with 27 points on 12-of-21 shooting to go with seven assists. Drayton Caoile, who had 15 points in the first quarter, finished with 23.