THE UST Growling Tigers succumbed to their seventh loss after blowing a 13-point lead to the NU Bulldogs, 67-62, in the second round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Nov 6, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
With the tough loss, UST tripped to a 5-7 win-loss slate. Meanwhile, NU stirred up the Final Four race after improving to a 4-8 record.
The Tigers opened the match with a 6-0 run led by Malian center Mo Tounkara.
Coming off a huge 67-47 win over the UP Fighting Maroons, the Bulldogs showed their grit to overtake control at the end of the first frame, 19-12.
In the tighter second salvo, the España squad caught up as Tiger playmaker Forthsky Padrigao drilled a triple to tie it all up, 32-all.
After a tip-in by NU’s PJ Palacielo, UST closed the half with a 36-34 edge off a pick-and-roll from Padrigao and Christian Manaytay.
Both teams struggled early in the third period until Tiger rookie Isaac Danting hit a corner three-pointer to start his team’s momentum, 39-34.
Bulldogs Jake Figueroa and Jolo Manansala hit back-to-back triples, but Tounkara responded with a two-handed slam to end the third quarter with the lead, 55-47.
The fourth quarter saw the Bulldogs pour a 19-3 run led by Manansala and Figueroa to take a six-point lead, 64-58.
With a chance to tie the game, Tigers Nic Cabañero and Manaytay missed back-to-back shots inside the paint that enabled the Bulldogs to seal the victory.
Manansala led the Bulldogs’ offense with 18 points, seven boards and a couple of assists. Palacielo contributed 15 points, six rebounds and four dimes, while Figueroa chalked up 13 markers, 11 rebounds and four assists.
For the Tigers, Cabanero had 19 points and three assists, while Tounkara added a 15-point and 18-rebound double-double.
The Tigers will aim to toughen up their Final Four bid when they face the UE Red Warriors on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. F – Brent Richmond Angelo Sagre with reports from Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg
