THE UST Growling Tigers captured the first-ever Pinoyliga Global Invitationals Cup title after outlasting the UE Red Warriors, 80-71, at the Enderun Gym on March 30, Sunday.
UST went undefeated in the whole tournament with a clean 5-0 record including the winner-take-all finals bout.
Point guard Forthsky Padrigao took home Finals MVP, leading UST with 21 points, four assists, two rebounds and a steal.
The Eagle-turned-Tiger expressed hoped that the feat would provide them leverage in competing in the upcoming UAAP Season 88.
“I hope that this win would help us move forward… to acknowledge that we can compete with the contenders of our league, hopefully,” Padrigao told The Flame.
“We’re just trying to build good habits, play the right way, and the results will eventually come,” the floor general added.
The Tigers kickstarted the match roaring after back-to-back three-pointers from Gelo Crisostomo and Geremy Robinson put their team ahead by double-digits, 22-12.
Finding rhythm in the second salvo, UE got within one point as jumpers from Rainer Maga and Precious Momowei sparked a 9-0 run that left UST scoreless for the first four minutes, 22-21.
The España-based squad returned the favor with Crisostomo converting three consecutive buckets and Padrigao draining a triple to go back in the mix, closing out the first half with a 40-37 edge.
Things tightened up in the third period as Red Warrior Daryll Robles drilled a three-pointer to put the game at 40-all.
Last year’s Pinoyliga Next Man Cup MVP Leland Estacio provided a spark off the bench for UST, converting a tough layup and a triple before the fourth quarter, 59-56.
Momowei and Padrigao started the final stanza strong as they traded and-1 baskets. Padrigao, however, followed it up with back-to-back threes to broaden UST’s lead to 70-60.
The Red Warriors refused to back down as a layup from Wello Lingolingo, followed by a three-pointer from Rainer Maga kept them afloat. But it was not enough after a Nic Cabañero layup sealed the deal.
Aside from Padrigao, Cabañero also received a spot in the Mythical Five, which also consisted of teammates Momowei and John Abate and Nagoya Gakuin University’s Raiki Takagi.
Cabañero chipped in 17 points while Llemit contributed 16 markers for the Tigers.
Maga paced the Red Warriors with 17 points, while Lingolingo and Abate added 12 and 10 markers respectively. F
