IN A replay of the recent 2026 NSAC Asiabasket finals, the UST Growling Tigers yielded in their rematch against the NU Bulldogs, 90-74, in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Thursday, June 18, at the Playtime Filoil Centre.
Although UST absorbed the loss, its place in the quarterfinals remained secure after FEU suffered a defeat to DLSU and fell to 1-3.
The España-based squad staggered to a 2-3 win-loss record, while NU improved to a 4-1 slate.
Marred by offensive struggles and an abysmal 5/24 from three-point range, UST was not able to take the lead at any point in their match.
Sophomore Koji Buenaflor led the way with 14 points, six rebounds and a steal, alongside Ice Danting’s 12 markers and five boards.
“Relying on the threes was a big factor to why we struggled,” Buenaflor told The Flame.
“We weren’t able to take advantage of Collins Akowe’s size and power inside the paint, especially that NU’s FSA wasn’t playing today,” he added.
With both teams trading blows early, Danting exchanged triples with NU’s DJ Laconsay and Reinhard Jumamoy in three consecutive sequences, though the Bulldogs still emerged with a 28-23 advantage.
In the second salvo, UST gave up another early three, this time to Edson Serrano, widening the gap to eight points, before a quick 6-0 run from Danting and Buenaflor trimmed the lead back down to two, 31-29.
The Jhocson-based crew retaliated quickly with a Vince Reyes and-one and a Chad Cartel triple, to stretch NU’s lead to 50-38.
The Tigers answered back with five quick points, courtesy of Gelo Crisostomo’s long-range shot and Carl Manding going coast to coast, before Jumamoy extinguished the run with a tough drive to the basket to end the half, 52-43.
UST showed signs of life in the third quarter, unleashing a 9-2 surge to cut the deficit to just four, 65-61, behind three free throws from Danting and consecutive and-one plays from Cañete and Charles Esteban.
However, NU unleashed their own 21-7 run over the Tigers in the final frame, with Kurl Figueroa contributing eight points down the stretch and Jumamoy’s continued dominance, inflating the lead by as much as 20 points, 90-70, and slamming the door on any UST comeback hopes.
Esteban and Akowe each chipped in 12 points, as well as recording four and five rebounds, respectively.
Meanwhile, Jumamoy led all scorers for the Bulldogs with 21 markers and an efficient 80% from the field.
The Tigers look to close the elimination round strong versus Gilas Youth on Tuesday, June 23, at the same venue. F
