THE REVITALIZED UST Growling Tigers unleashed their fury as they ravaged the UE Red Warriors, 70-55, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball eliminations at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Sept. 8, Sunday.
UST kickstarted its redemption campaign with a solid 15-point victory led by Nic Cabañero with 14 points, three rebounds and two steals.
First-game jitters showed for both teams, but Tiger Mark Llemit looked like a natural after converting a fast break and-1 to give his team the lead, 11-6.
Llemit hit a triple at the top of the key, followed by a close jumper from Christian Manaytay to give UST a double-digit lead to open the match, 18-8.
The Tigers continued to display their retooled squad as Malian Mo Tounkara overpowered his matchup Precious Momowei to get a 13-point edge, 26-13, in the second salvo.
King Tiger Cabañero was having a bad start until he drained two hesitation triples in the quarter, including a buzzer beater, to end the half, 36-19.
Former Ateneo guard Forthsky Padrigao set the pace in the third chapter, dishing out two assists before he dropped a long bomb to mount a 20-point cushion, 45-25.
The Recto squad cut the deficit to 11 led by Momowei and Fil-Am Ethan Galang, 46-35. However, the España-based squad scored four straight points off a floater from Geremy Robinson to enter the fourth frame with a 15-point edge, 50-35.
Back-to-back triples from Tigers Llemit and former UE bomber Kyle Paranada made the game out of reach for the Red Warriors midway through the fourth frame, 64-43.
Last season’s bottom-dwellers dribbled it out in the final seconds to claim the win.
UST received the contributions of Tounkara with 13 points and four rebounds and forward Christian Manaytay with 10 points and three rebounds.
Meanwhile, Padrigao chipped in five markers, seven assists and six rebounds in his comeback to the UAAP.
Momowei handled UE’s scoring load with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Galang added 11 markers.
“Long season ahead… Makikipagpatayan itong mga ‘to (They will go on a killing spree),” coach Pido Jarencio said post-game.
The Growling Tigers will seek to win back-to-back against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sept.11, Wednesday, at the same venue. F
