THE UST Growling Tigers bowed out of the 19th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup after absorbing a heartbreaking 103-102 overtime defeat to the Colegio de San Juan Letran Knights in the quarterfinals at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Friday, July 10.
Despite holding a four-point lead with 17 seconds left, UST failed to fend off Letran’s late-game surge as Jimbooy Estrada buried a clutch three-pointer before George Diamante came up with a game-sealing steal and layup in the closing seconds to lift Letran to a stunning comeback victory.
Acido paced the Growling Tigers with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Koji Buenaflor and Peter Osang added 18 and 17 markers, respectively.
Buenaflor opened the contest with a three-pointer as UST controlled the early tempo. The Tigers stayed in front for most of the opening quarter before Letran’s Titing Manalili knocked down back-to-back baskets to give the Knights a 24-20 advantage at the end of the period.
Letran stretched its lead early in the second quarter, but UST responded behind Osang, who knotted the score at 40-all. Contributions from Ice Danting and Kirk Cañete helped UST carry a slim halftime advantage, 49-46.
The Knights regrouped after the break as Chad Gammad tied the game at 67-all midway through the third quarter. Letran seized momentum late in the frame and entered the fourth period ahead, 72-69.
UST battled back in the final canto and erased the deficit, with the contest tied at 84-all entering the final two minutes of regulation. Acido knocked down a clutch trey to give the Growling Tigers a three-point cushion, but Gammad answered with a triple of his own to level the score at 89-all and force overtime.
The Tigers briefly regained control in the extra period as Llemit’s two free throws gave UST a four-point lead with 17 seconds remaining, 102-98.
However, the España-based squad crumbled to the Knights’ pressure defense as Estrada buried a clutch three-pointer before Diamante forced a turnover and converted the game-winning layup.
Gammad powered Letran with a game-high 27 points on 7-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc, while Estrada chipped in 22 markers to help fuel the Knights’ comeback.
After the loss, Acido remained optimistic about UST’s preparations for the upcoming UAAP Season 89.
“We’re really looking forward to the upcoming UAAP, lalo na ngayon maraming competitive teams,” Acido told The Flame.
Acido added that the Growling Tigers will spend the remaining two months strengthening their chemistry and communication in training. F Lara Sofia Alvarez
