THE TOP-SEEDED UST Growling Tigers punched their ticket to the championship match after outlasting the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 76-68, in the semifinals of the 2026 Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup: The Big Dance on Monday, Aug. 31, at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.
Veteran guard Mark Llemit led the charge with 19 points and 6 rebounds, while the returning Collins Akowe added 21 markers and 6 boards in only three quarters, with him sitting-out in the fourth period.
“Our coaches have been reminding us to always stay composed, and that is why we never gave up until the end,” Llemit told The Flame.
“Whoever our opponent will be, we don’t always think that its not a UAAP school, what we’ll be showing is what UST Basketball is,” he added.
Akowe pioneered UST’s high-scoring opening frame with an early 15-5 lead, but the Blue Eagles ignited a 5-0 run capped-off by Andrew Bongo’s shot beyond the arc to gain their first lead, 16-18.
The Tigers then quickly answered back through Charles Bucsit’s trey on a Kirk Cañete pass, 19-18. UST kept their momentum going until the end of the period courtesy of Mark Llemit’s successful basket-and-one, 24-18.
Both teams traded buckets in the second period, though on the three-minute mark, UST’s three straight turnovers capitalized Ateneo’s three straight scoring streak before Shawn Tuano’s paint basket regained their lead, 40-42.
However, Ian Espinosa’s technical foul paved the way for the España-based squad to assume control again entering the halftime mark through Amiel Acido’s technical free throw and Llemit’s layup, 43-42.
UST then suffered a deficit opening the half, as Jared Bahay’s three pointer brought the Blue Eagles back on the lead after a long scoring drought in the middle of the frame, 45-49.
After a series of tirades, Akowe’s floater off-the-post trimmed the Tigers’ deficit to a single digit, 52-53, but Kieffer Alas quickly responded beyond the arc furthering Blue Eagles’ lead to 52-56.
Both teams exchanged blows in the final few minutes of the third salvo, before Llemit’s layup beat the buzzer to level the match, 58-all.
Cañete and Landyn Jumawan’s heroics have paved the way for a UST run with Koji Buenaflor’s corner three giving them a double-digit lead midway in the final quarter, 71-61.
The España-based squad stayed composed with timely defense throughout the fourth to seal their spot in the Finals.
Alas and Bongo paced for 23 combined markers in a loss for the Blue Eagles.
The Tigers will seek their second preseason chip as they face the CEU Scorpions in the Finals, with the date and venue still undetermined as of writing. F
