FOR THE first time in nine years, the high-flying Eagles from Katipunan tasted defeat at the hands of title-hungry Tigers from España.
The UST Growling Tigers clinched a convincing 74-64 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday, Sept. 11, ending its 17-game losing streak against the Katipunan squad.
“Even before we got here, we were told that we needed to win against Ateneo after losing to them for so long… We had confidence that we would finally get the win,” Tigers bigman Gelo Crisostomo told The Flame.
The Tigers’ last win against the Eagles goes back to the first round of Season 78, which was almost a decade ago when Kevin Ferrer was leading the pack.
Last Wednesday’s victory improved UST’s win-loss record to 2-0 and allowed the España cagers to gain a share of the early lead together with defending champions DLSU Green Archers.
The redemption-seeking Tigers unleashed a 16 to nothing run in the final frame, 72-60, to bury the Eagles down to their second straight loss.
The Eagles’ defensive plays made it difficult for the Tigers to convert their baskets, allowing them to end the first half with a four-point advantage, 41-37.
Ex-Blue Eagle Forthsky Padrigao commanded the pace for UST in the third quarter, dishing out an assist to Crisostomo as he punched an and-1 inside to steal the lead, 55-52.
In the fourth frame, Ateneo unleashed an 8-3 run led by Josh Lazaro to regain control of the game, 60-56.
However, the Tigers lighted it up after the 8:10-minute mark, overwhelming last season’s fourth-placers with a 16-0 flood.
“In the first half… we were outworked, we were outhustled… In the second half, we communicated with each other… we just worked and tried to get every rebound to get stops,” Padrigao said. “Thankfully it worked.”
Crisostomo and Mo Tounkara battled down low for UST, ending the game with a total of 32 points and 24 rebounds. Nic Cabañero contributed 11 points, six boards and four dimes, while floor general Padrigao had six markers and nine assists.
Lazaro led the Blue Eagles with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Shaun Tuano and Kristian Porter added 13 and 10 markers, respectively.
The Growling Tigers will aim to sustain their winning momentum when they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena. F – B. R. A. Sagre
