THE UST Growling Tigers concluded their group stage with a blowout win over the San Sebastian Stags, 102-63, in the Asiabasket NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour on Sunday, April 26, at the UP Varsity Training Center.
UST enters the Round-of-16 stage with a clean 3-0 record under Group B.
Still without twin towers Gelo Crisostomo and Collins Akowe, forwards Kris Porter and Amiel Acido took charge, combining for 26 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
“Knowing how big the shoes Gelo and Collins have left behind, I am doing anything I can to provide what they provide,” Porter told The Flame.
“What we are going to work on are our flaws, to stay humble and not celebrate too early and keep working as if our standing is 0-0,” he added.
UST started hot, but Reggz Gabat’s outside jumper sparked a 5-1 blitz for San Sebastian for an early 14-11 lead.
Back-to-back treys from Ice Danting and Kirk Cañete gave UST the lead before Acido topped it off with a triple by the end of the first frame, 32-23.
Combo threes from Charles Esteban and Mur Alao ballooned UST’s advantage to 59-38 before halftime.
The Tigers ended the third period with a 6-2 run capped off by a buzzer-beating basket from Brylle Teng, 81-50.
UST’s bench scoring and defense stayed firm, limiting the Stags to only 11 points in the final quarter, en route to the win.
Osang scored nine points, while Koji Buenaflor and Jiro Sevilla had eight markers each for UST. James Jumao-As, meanwhile, contributed nine assists.
John Ynot paced the Stags with 12 points, five assists and five rebounds.
The Tigers are set to face the winless St. Claire Saints in the Round-of-16 stage on Sunday, May 3, at the University of Perpetual Help Systems DALTA Gymnasium. F
