THE UST Growling Tigers were poised to stun the top-seeded DLSU Green Archers on Oct. 16, Wednesday, when they managed to erase a 20-point deficit during the dying seconds of the fourth quarter.
With the game tied at 80-all with 24.1 seconds left in the clock, UST guard Forthsky Padrigao had a chance to give his team a come-from-behind win when he was sent to the free throw line.
But confidence was not enough to sink the second free throw that would have ended the Tigers’ nine-year losing streak against the Archers.
After UST’s 94-87 overtime defeat, the floor general took accountability, acknowledging how crucial the second attempt at the charity stripe was.
“I was confident with my first shot when it got in, but I really missed the second one… That’s really really on me,” Padrigao said post-game.
“I love how we fought throughout this game… we came back, but the free throws and the last shot could’ve won the game,” he added.
Despite the loss, Padrigao said it was not enough to toughen up his squad, which remained at fourth place in the standings.
“I think experiences like these really suit us, it would help our team moving forward… I don’t think we’ve experienced this before,” he said.
“It’s a good thing that we fought, but it’s not enough… We’re already in the second round, it’s not enough that we just fought, we really need those wins.”
Padrigao is setting his eyes on the next game against his former squad Ateneo Blue Eagles at UST’s homecourt. While the Tigers are up against a team that bowed to them during the first round, Padrigao is not taking any chances. After all, the Tigers are on a two-game slump, a situation made more difficult by the suspension of big man Mo Tounkara, who committed a second technical foul in their game against the Archers for taunting.
Padrigao will face his former home in his new home on Saturday, Oct. 20, when the Growling Tigers square off with the Blue Eagles at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
“Sometimes the homecourt makes the team complacent and confident so we need to make sure that we’re not that like that because you know Ateneo won their last game against NU and they are prepared,” the Eagle-turned-Tiger said.
“[W]e have Ateneo on Saturday, I think without Mo [Tounkara], it’s going to be tougher for us,” he added. F – Brent Richmond Angelo Sagre with reports from Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg.
