THE UST Growling Tigers closed their Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup eliminations with a slim victory against the Gilas Pilipinas Youth, 99-90, on Tuesday, June 23, at the Playtime FilOil Centre.
Finishing with an even 3-3 win/loss slate, the Tigers have locked in their spot in the quarterfinals as the fourth seed in the UAAP bracket.
Bigman Collins Akowe dominated the floor with 18 points and 9 rebounds, while sophomore Koji Buenaflor chipped in 14 markers and 7 boards.
The España-based squad also controlled the glass with 47 rebounds and dominated the paint with 66 points inside.
UST had an early advantage, but Bruce Tubongbanua and Jacob Lacson led a 5-1 Gilas Youth run to switch things up, 12-15. In the middle of the first salvo, Gelo Crisostomo left early after subbing-in off the bench due to a hard foul.
Despite Kris Porter’s two straight buckets to even the match at 18-all, baskets from Chog Moral and Patrick Pasinos kept the lead of the Junior Gilas squad by a slim distance, 25-23.
The second quarter remained close early on but Koji Buenaflor and Kirk Cañete fueled an 11-6 UST run, helping the Tigers pull away for a 57-42 halftime lead capped by an Akowe free throw.
The España-based squad kept its lead after the half, but Gilas Youth held it down to a single digit behind three straight buckets from Tubongbanua, Austin Arsic and Moral, 69-65.
However, Cañete’s three prevented the chances for the junior national team to advance, ending the frame with a basket in the paint by Buenaflor, 76-68.
Tigers’ bench controlled the pace in the fourth period, but back-to-back threes from Tovera and Moral kept the hopes up for Gilas Youth down the final two minutes, 94-90.
A Charles Bucsit corner three, followed by two free throws from Cañete and Porter sealed the victory for UST.
Bucsit and Porter added 22 combined markers off the bench.
Tubongbanua and Tovera combined for 45 markers in the losing effort.
The Tigers await for their quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday, July 21, at the same venue. F
