WITH BIG man Collins Akowe back in the lineup, the UST Growling Tigers cruised into the quarterfinals with an 87-55 rout of the St. Clare College of Caloocan Saints in the Asiabasket NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour on Sunday, May 10, at the UP Varsity Training Center.
Twin towers Akowe and Gelo Crisostomo made their presence felt after controlling the frontcourt for the Tigers, tallying 30 points and 19 rebounds combined.
“I have been out for like three weeks, so I just want to use this opportunity to get back and do what I need to do,” Akowe told The Flame.
“[Our defensive scheme] is what we have been working on for weeks, and I am happy we were able to showcase this on the court,” he added.
The Tigers raced to a blistering 28-12 lead to close the first frame behind Mark Llemit’s successful free throw off a foul.
UST maintained its momentum in the second quarter despite six turnovers, concluding the first half with a 52-31 advantage off Llemit’s mid-range jumper.
The Tigers sustained their huge advantage by holding the Saints to only 13 points in the third salvo, as they wrapped the frame up with a layup from Charles Bucsit, 68-44.
Akowe went on a deep scoring run, scoring six points in the fourth period, as the Tigers kept their blowout margin. Back-to-back baskets from rookies Kirk Cañete and Charles Esteban sealed the victory.
Veteran guard Llemit added 17 markers and 7 boards off the bench for the Tigers.
Foreign-student athlete Babacar Ndong posted a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double for St. Clare.
The España-based squad is set to go head-to-head against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the quarterfinals on Sunday, May 17, at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Dorm and Sports Complex. F
