THE UST Growling Tigers booked a trip to the Asiabasket NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour finals after outlasting the DLSU Green Archers in overtime, 115-107, on Saturday, May 30, at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.
With UST holding a 71-65 lead early in the fourth quarter, tempers flared after Charles Esteban and Luis Pablo tangled while battling for position, sparking a scuffle between both teams.
The altercation led to the ejections of UST cagers Mark Llemit, Koji Buenaflor and Ivanne Calum, along with DLSU’s Vhoris Marasigan.
Amiel Acido dropped 33 points and six rebounds to lead the Tigers, while Collins Akowe chipped in 24 markers and nine rebounds. Gelo Crisostomo flirted with a triple-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
“We have to trust each other, we got to do what we got to do,” Akowe told The Flame.
“Don’t mind the referees, it’s all about mind games, so we just have to stay composed,” the 6-foot-10 center added.
Both teams exchanged blows in the first half before DLSU star Jacob Cortez knocked down a jumper to give his squad the lead entering halftime, 41-40.
Two threes from Crisostomo, followed by a breakaway layup from Llemit, gave UST a 67-58 advantage to end the third period.
The Archers then opened the fourth frame by sparking a quick 6-2 run capped off by a Mason Amos layup to cut their deficit down to 73-71.
With DLSU taking an 83-81 lead late in the quarter, Akowe clutched up and nailed both of his free throws to force an extra period.
It was all UST in overtime, as back-to-back layups from Akowe, followed by a three from Crisostomo, sealed the Tigers’ finals spot.
Mur Alao added nine points for UST including a crucial three in overtime, while Llemit chipped in nine markers and eight rebounds prior to getting ejected.
Amos paced the Taft squad in the loss with 23 points, while Cortez added 20 points and 12 assists.
The Tigers will battle the NU Bulldogs for the crown on Sunday, May 31, at the same venue. F
