AFTER STATEMENT wins against the FEU Tamaraws and the Ateneo Blue Eagles this past week, the UST Growling Tigers seek to enter the second elimination round of UAAP Season 89 with the much needed momentum for a title push.
The Tigers are currently sitting in fourth place after finishing the first round of eliminations with a 4-3 slate.
Despite notions that they still lack consistency, the title-hungry squad knows what to do to succeed in their quest to bring the crown back to España for the first time since Season 69.
“It all starts in practice. We’re focused on making adjustments and improvements to keep this run going,” third-year wing Amiel Acido told The Flame.
Despite going down 2-3 early on with a 28-point loss against the Adamson Soaring Falcons and a heartbreaking defeat against the NU Bulldogs, the España team was able to finish the first round strong with consecutive wins off of strong second-half performances in both matches.
“In spite of the blowout loss against Adamson, I was able to see how much willingness this team has to win it all and to prove they’ve got what it takes,” said assistant coach Japs Cuan postgame after the Tigers’ triumph over Ateneo last Saturday.
Acido and team captain Mark Llemit sit second and fourth in the Most Valuable Player (MVP) race after seven games, tallying 68.714 statistical points (SPS) and 66.0 SPS, respectively.
Collins Akowe is second in the Best Foreign Student Athlete Award race behind FEU’s Mo Konateh, racking up 74.857 SPS.
Huge scoring runs were the main driver of UST’s two consecutive wins, with a 22-0 run over FEU in the fourth quarter and a 28-4 blitz against Ateneo in the third frame.
“We just stuck to the system, and the leadership of Amiel and Mark has definitely been instrumental for the team to step up,” Cuan said.
Acido and Llemit, who have emerged as frontrunners in the MVP race, vowed to keep improving their performances as they step into the next chapter of the season.
The Tigers will strive to remain in the win column when they clash with the formidable UP Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. F
