DESPITE MULTIPLE comeback attempts, the revamped UST Growling Tigers succumbed to its first loss during the first round of UAAP Season 86 to host UE Red Warriors, 80-70.
It was a wire-to-wire victory for UE as it spoiled the coaching return of former Glowing Goldies Pido Jarencio to UST on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
“We got off to a bad start… We’re not making our shots, we’re not playing defense,” Jarencio said in a post-game interview.
UST kept the fourth quarter within reach, cutting UE’s lead to 8 points, 75-67, with two minutes left to play. But UE proved to be too much as Jack Cruz-Dumont dropped a three-pointer bomb to secure the win.
The Red Warriors started with an 8-0 run early in the game, furthering it with a 13-point lead, 22-9. However, the Tigers roared back, scoring 12 straight points to only trail by a single point, 22-21, to end the opening quarter.
After a deadlock to begin the second quarter, 22-22, UST never got close again. King Tiger Nic Cabañero had 18 points, while forward Christian Manaytay contributed 15 markers. Both had eight rebounds each.
Red Warrior Rey Remogat led his team to victory with a double-double, exploding for 21 points, 10 assists, and three steals. Center Precious Momowei had 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds while Cruz-Dumont finished with 16 markers with three triples.
This was the Red Warriors’ first opening-day win since 2014, when they defeated the UP Fighting Maroons by 28 points, 87-59.
The Growling Tigers will seek to bounce back against the Adamson University Falcons on Oct. 4 at the Mall of Asia Arena. F — with reports from Mc Neil Zyh Serrano
