THE UST Growling Tigers survived a late Ateneo Blue Eagles rally, 86-84, to clinch a semifinal berth in the Asiabasket NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour on Saturday, May 23, at the Enrique M. Razon Sports Complex.
Mark Llemit led the unbeaten Tigers with 21 points and nine rebounds, while big men Collins Akowe and Gelo Crisostomo combined for 28 markers and 16 boards.
“Our coaches always just remind us to keep playing, even if we commit a turnover, we just bounce back on defense,” Llemit told The Flame.
“This game is just too crucial because it’s the quarterfinals, and we knew what was at stake,” he added.
UST and Ateneo figured in a back-and-forth opening period before Akowe’s outside jumper sparked momentum for the España-based squad, 15-12.
Back-to-back layups from Crisostomo and Kirk Cañete capped an 11-5 UST run to close the first frame, 26-19.
The Tigers maintained their double-digit lead in the second quarter until the Blue Eagles trimmed it down to 38-37, following three straight treys from Andrew Bongo, Kyle Gamber and Kieffer Alas.
Ateneo briefly went ahead, 44-43, after freebies from Jared Bahay, before UST regained control by halftime off of Akowe’s second shot beyond the arc, 46-44.
UST held on to a slim lead in the second half, but Grayson Rogers’ two straight triples gave Ateneo their hopes of bouncing back in the final quarter, 79-77. However, Llemit and Crisostomo answered with crucial fastbreak baskets to keep the Blue Eagles at bay, 83-77.
Joaquin Espina’s bucket beyond the arc kept the Katipunan-based squad within striking distance with eight ticks remaining, 85-84, but a crucial free throw from Amiel Acido and a Cañete steal off a Divine Adili turnover sealed the win for the Tigers.
Bahay and Alas combined for 32 points in a loss for the Blue Eagles.
UST will seek a finals berth when it returns in the semifinal round on Saturday, May 30, at the Blue Eagle Gym. F
