THE UST Growling Tigers extended their losing streak to eight after blowing a 19-point lead to the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 56-55, in the second round of UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.
With his team down by two with 8.4 seconds left on the clock, Falcons’ big man Cedrick Manzano buried a clutch and-1 off an inbound pass from Joaquin Jaymalin to complete the comeback over the Tigers on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Tigers’ Jamba Garing missed the potential game-winner after a scrambling AdU stop, while Nic Cabañero, who had 22 points with six rebounds, was seen to be irate at the end of the regulation after being scoreless in the final quarter. UST was only held to five points to AdU’s 16 points.
UST was up big, 48-27, in the third quarter after Cabañero heated up from beyond the arc, hitting three trifectas, with Garing and Miguel Pangilinan hitting one 3-pointer each. But it was not enough to repeat the opening day win after the Tigers suffered a scoring drought for about eight minutes.
With Falcons’ starters Jerom Lastimosa and Vince Magbuhos out due to injuries, Manzano led the Falcons’ stunning win after dropping an efficient 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
AdU’s Lenda Douanga had nine points and 12 rebounds, while Ray Allen Torres scored eight points to aid the captain-less team.
Pangilinan had nine points, Christian Manyatay had six points, and Adame Faye only had three points but pulled down 16 boards for UST.
The Tigers will head to a break for FIBA windows, with the worst record in the league, 1-8. The Falcons are still on the run for the final four with a 4-5 record. F
