University of Santo Tomas growled to its third straight win in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament after clawing Far Eastern University, 92-80, Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Growling Tigers rose to 5-1 in the season, sharing the lead with National University, while the Tamaraws dropped to 1-5.
Kyle Paranada powered UST with 19 points, four assists and two rebounds on a near-perfect 7-of-8 shooting, while Nic Cabanero and Gelo Crisostomo had 14 markers apiece.
It was a nip-and-tuck game through the fourth quarter, as the two teams traded buckets almost the whole game.
A Jorick Bautista 3-pointer pushed FEU ahead, 73-72, but Paranada and Cabanero took turns with their deuces as the Tigers turned things up a notch and take an 80-73 lead with 5:36 left.
Mo Konateh and Janrey Pasaol made it a 80-82 deficit for FEU, as the Tamaraws tried to charge back with 4:01 remaining.
But a massive finishing 10-0 kick by UST, courtesy of Crisostomo and Collins Akowe, slammed the door shut on the Morayta-based squad.
Akowe had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, to go with four blocks and a steal. Forthsky Padrigao chipped in 11 points, but he struggled with a 2-of-10 clip.
Pasaol filled the statsheet for the Tamaraws with 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds, while Konateh tallied 19 markers, 11 boards, four swats, three steals and two dimes for FEU.
UST will try to finish the first round strong as it takes on Adamson on Saturday, while the FEU will try to return to the winning column as it faces University of the East on Sunday. Both games will be at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.