THE UST Growling Tigers endured their first defeat in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball eliminations after getting tamed by the NU Bulldogs, 76-69, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Coming off back-to-back statement wins over last year’s heavyweights, UST’s momentum cooled off at home as NU took over in the closing moments.
UST slipped to a 2-1 record, while NU joined Ateneo at the top of the standings with a perfect 3-0 slate.
Fresh off his first Player of the Week nod, UST foreign student-athlete Collins Akowe had his worst game so far in the collegiate ranks as NU’s defense held him to only five points and eight boards.
The “Battle of Sampaloc” started off tightly with a 10-all deadlock midway through the opening minutes.
UST then went on a 5-2 run to finish the first frame with a 22-18 lead.
Midway through the second salvo, King Tiger Nic Cabañero soared inside to get a bucket and a foul for a 34-31 lead.
NU got close before UST made it rain with three triples in a row — a couple from Forthsky Padrigao — for a 43-40 edge at the end of the half.
UST’s monster rookie Akowe had his first bucket to begin the second half, 45-40.
Both teams traded baskets, but Amiel Acido’s triple from the top of the key gave the Tigers a 61-58 lead heading into the fourth frame.
The Bulldogs overtook the lead with 1:52 on the clock behind a step-back from star Jake Figueroa, 70-67.
Then Figueroa drained a long bomb later to torch the Tigers, 73-69.
Cabañero and Acido led the scoring for UST with 37 points combined.
For the Bulldogs, Figueroa had a game-high 22 points to go along with nine boards. Big men Omar John and PJ Palacielo added 10 markers apiece.
The Tigers will look to bounce back against the UE Red Warriors on Oct. 4 at the same venue. F
