UNFAZED BY the Blue Eagles’ territory, the UST Growling Tigers stunned Ateneo in the first-ever triple overtime thriller of the Final Four era, 98-89, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Oct. 11.
The Tigers stayed composed through the extra 15 minutes behind heroics from co-captains Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao, dealing the Blue Eagles their second straight loss.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my teammates,” Cabañero told The Flame after scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 boards.
“I know I had some lapses earlier, but Forthsky and the rest of the team were there to help and support each other throughout the game,” he added.
With the victory, UST improved to a 4-1 win-loss slate, while Ateneo fell to 4-2.
The España-based squad outscored the Katipunan crew, 13-4, in the third extra period.
UST opened flat on offense, managing only scattered baskets from Collins Akowe as Ateneo took a 28-20 lead in the first frame.
The Tigers then roared back in the second salvo, mounting a 13-2 blitz led by Nic Cabañero to overtake the lead, 33-30.
However, Ateneo quickly countered with a 7–0 run to close the half back on top, 37–33.
Kymani Ladi and Divine Adili traded baskets in the second half to keep a 48-41 Ateneo advantage.
Refusing to back down, UST got within striking distance as Forthsky Padrigao drained a bucket to take a 55–53 edge before the fourth.
Padrigao came through in the clutch, draining a cold-blooded triple with 40 seconds left to tie the game at 66-all and force overtime after Ladi’s potential game-winner rimmed out.
In the first overtime, UST appeared poised to seal the win before Ateneo’s Shawn Tuano sank a crucial basket with 19 seconds remaining to force another five minutes, 74-all.
Ateneo star Jared Bahay hit huge triples to keep the game alive, 85-all. But UST held down on the defensive end to take over the 55-minute game.
Padrigao — the former Blue Eagle — contributed 20 markers for UST. Foreign student-athlete Collins Akowe also delivered another monster double-double, built on 20 points and 19 rebounds.
Bahay led Ateneo with 17 points with five triples, while Ladi and Escobar added 14 and 13 markers, respectively.
The Tigers will aim to sustain their winning ways when they face the FEU Tamaraws on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena. F
