THE UST Growling Tigers lost their grip on the top seed in the UAAP bracket of the 18th FilOil Preseason Cup after absorbing a 94-86 loss to the DLSU Green Archers at the PlayTime Filoil Centre in San Juan.
DLSU finished the eliminations with a clean 6-0 sweep, while UST ended with a 4-2 slate for the second spot.
Kicking off the match, former Ateneo Eagles Mason Amos and Forthsky Padrigao traded buckets for their new squads. But back-to-back baskets from Archer guard Kean Baclaan gave his team the edge midway through the opening frame, 23-15.
The Tigers were quick to retaliate as a bucket from Echo Laure and a buzzer-beating three from Kyle Paranada cut their deficit at the end of the first quarter, 26-23.
In the second salvo, DLSU showcased a fullcourt press to force a UST turnover. Archers Vhoris Marasigan and Mikey Cortez hit back-to-back triples to take a 38-30 advantage.
Two straight transition threes from Ice Danting kept the Espana-based squad afloat by halftime, 52-49.
The Archers came out swinging in the third frame, scoring a 10-5 run headed by Baclaan’s consecutive layups, 55-62.
Three triples from Danting in the quarter alone kept the Tigers within four, 75-71, heading into the final 10 minutes.
DLSU started the fourth period strong with a quick 10-2 run topped by an and-1 play from Jacob Cortez, 85-73.
Back-to-back threes from Mur Alao and Leland Estacio inched the Tigers closer, but a layup from Amos sealed the deal for the Archers.
Amos led the Taft squad to victory with 18 points, five rebounds and a steal. Baclaan put up 18 markers, while team captain Mike Phillips added a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Danting finished with 19 points and went 6-for-8 from deep for the Tigers. Co-captain Nic Cabañero added 18 markers.
Despite the loss, the Tigers will advance to the quarterfinals and face NCAA’s EAC Generals in on Friday, July 11, at the same venue. F – Joshua Louis Sumanghid
