AN IDEAL start to the year for the UST Growling Tigers was not fulfilled as they fell short of a repeat in the Pinoyliga Global Invitationals Cup at the Enderun Gym in Taguig.
The Tigers suffered an 80-77 loss to the Tokai University Seagulls of Japan on Sunday, Feb. 22.
UAAP Season 88 Elite Team member Collins Akowe dropped 24 points, 13 rebounds and a remarkable 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, but his efforts weren’t enough to steer the España squad to victory.
On the other side, the Shibuya-based squad captured gold behind Japanese swingman Shori Togaeri, who was named Player of the Game with 12 markers, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
The opening salvo showcased Akowe’s dominance, drawing multiple and-1 conversions. But the Seagulls showed offensive chemistry from eight different scorers, highlighted by a Kei Rooney three-pointer and Chidimi Nakagawa’s own and-1.
Tiger wing Amiel Acido capped off the quarter with two steals, his second leading to Gelo Crisostomo’s first points of the match to tie the game at 19-all.
UST turned the tide in the second period, leading by as much as nine points from a 9-0 blitz. Koji Buenaflor hit a corner three before Tokai big man Mbaye Moustapha scored to trail at the half, 43-36.
Tokai began the third frame half with urgency, as a Nakagawa three and a layup from Ryusuke Yamagishi cut their deficit to 43-41. Buenaflor and Akowe, however, combined for a quick 5-0 run to for a 46-41 edge.
A 6-0 run from the Seagulls, capped by a tough floater from Hiro Watanabe, tied the game at 55-all entering the final quarter.
The fourth frame saw the Shibuya crew continue their momentum from the third, going on a late 15-6 run to widen the gap, 80-71, courtesy of Yamagishi’s back-to-back triples and a Nakagawa slam dunk to put the exclamation point.
UST tried rallying back with six straight points in the final seconds, but it wasn’t enough to topple the Japanese team.
Buenaflor, Crisostomo and guard Ivan Calum contributed 14, 11, and 10 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Nakagawa provided 12 markers of his own, while Moustapha added 10 to power Tokai University to glory. F – Lorenzo Sebastian Amoroso
