THE DEFENDING champions UST Tiger Cubs closed out the first round of the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball tournament with a tough 78-74 loss to the NUNS Bullpups on Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Adamson Gym.
With the loss, UST fell to a 2-5 win-loss record midway through the campaign, suffering its worst Round 1 record in over a decade.
In Season 79, the Tiger Cubs concluded the first round at the bottom of the standings with a similar 2-5 slate.
Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Iñigo expressed the team’s need for better decision-making, especially in the clutch.
“I’m okay with the teams effort, but I always tell the leaders that we need better decision-making when it comes to the endgame because that’s where we cause problems,” Iñigo told The Flame.
“All of our games are knockout games… We have to be ready to give all our efforts if we want to reach the Final Four,” the champion tactician added.
The Tiger Cubs opened the game strong with Joaqui Ludovice’s jumper punctuating UST’s 11-2 start.
NUNS later found its offense as a three from Shaun Lucido trimmed his team’s deficit to end the first quarter, 22-18.
UST gained momentum in the second salvo, as Jetlee Melano’s layup through contact extended the Tiger Cubs lead to double-digits, 34-21.
The Bullpups then ignited a 9-2 run, capitalized by Kurl Figueroa’s layup to place the match at a 45-all deadlock at halftime.
Both teams exchanged blows throughout the third frame, but back-to-back threes from Jhon Canapi gave UST the edge entering the final period, 65-63.
After a nip-and-tuck affair throughout the closing minutes, Bullpup guard Miekho Natinga drilled a midrange jumper to seal the win late.
Figueroa led the Bullpups with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Natinga added 12 markers.
Melano paced the Tiger Cubs with 13 points and five rebounds in the losing effort, while Canapi scored 12.
The schedule of the second round is yet to be announced. F
