THE UST Growling Tigers needed no triple-overtime this time in overcoming the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 67–59, during the second round of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
UST strengthened its playoff position with a much-improved 22-of-28 clip from the stripe to claim its seventh win and strengthen its grip on fourth place.
“We have that attack mentality — I think it’s innate in us because that’s how our system works,” Tigers co-captain Forthsky Padrigao, a former Blue Eagle, told The Flame.
“We made mistakes in the past game that we couldn’t afford to repeat against Ateneo, and that’s what translated into our performance today,” he added after being limited to just six markers.
The Tigers shook off their past free-throw struggles, sinking 11 of 12 from the line to secure a 25-18 lead after the opening quarter.
Ateneo pushed back in the second quarter as Dom Escobar opened the period with a putback, followed by a strong paint finish from Lars Fjellvang to quickly trim the gap to three, 25-22.
The Blue Eagles then tied the game at 27-all after Jared Bahay calmly sank five straight free throws. Andrew Bongo drilled a clutch buzzer-beating shot to pull Ateneo within two points heading into halftime, 35-33.
Crisostomo then delivered back-to-back transition layups to restore a seven-point cushion in the third period, but Ateneo refused to fold with Ladi’s three and Shawn Tuano’s inside finish, making it a tight 46–44 contest.
Acido stepped up for UST, scoring five straight, including a triple, to keep the Tigers ahead by seven before the final 10 minutes, 53–46.
Ladi hit a triple to begin the fourth quarter, but UST’s Padrigao immediately answered with back-to-back threes to restore a commanding 59–49 lead.
The Tigers held firm in the final minutes, locking up the Blue Eagles’ attempts to secure their second straight win.
Collins Akowe powered the Tigers with 15 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. Nic Cabañero backed him up with 14 markers, seven boards and six dimes.
On the Katipunan side, Ladi led with 14 points, while Escobar and Tuano chipped in eight points each.
The Tigers now turn their attention to their first tormentors of the season, the NU Bulldogs, as they clash on Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena. F
