University of Santo Tomas finally snapped its four-game skid in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, overpowering cellar-dwelling University of the East, 109-97, Wednesday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Growling Tigers, reeling from consecutive narrow defeats to Adamson University and the University of the Philippines, leaned on a balanced offensive effort from Nic Cabañero, Gelo Crisostomo, and Nigerian center Collins Akowe to secure their first win in over a month. Their last victory came in a 5-1 start to the season.
UST had last triumphed over Far Eastern University on October 15 but went into a tailspin afterward. Their scheduled rematch last Sunday was postponed due to Super Typhoon “Uwan.”
With this morale-boosting win, the Growling Tigers climbed to solo fourth in the eight-team standings with a 6-5 record, creating separation from fifth-placed Ateneo (5-5) and sixth-placed Adamson (5-6).
“Credit lang din dito sa mga players namin na through adversity, they stuck together. Kahit na mahirap, but naniwala pa rin sila sa isa’t-isa,” UST assistant coach Japs Cuan said, as head coach Pido Jarencio has yet to appear in a post-game press conference during the team’s six wins this season.
UST set the tone early, opening a 20-6 run that stretched into the second quarter. Inside hits from Lorenzo Bangco and Cabañero, combined with a free throw by Akowe, turned a 16-10 lead into a commanding 36-16 advantage.
After a floater by Echo Laure pushed UST’s lead to a game-high 27 points at 82-55 in the third quarter, UE mounted a 28-10 run to cut the deficit to just nine points, 92-83, with 4:32 remaining.
However, the Growling Tigers quickly regained control. An Acido layup and back-to-back triples from Mark Llemit—his first points after missing in the first three quarters—extended the lead to an insurmountable 17 points, 100-83, with 3:48 left.
“We need to be ready from the first man to the 16th man. Isa rin yung ego. It’s not about me, Nic Cabañero, it’s not about Collins Akowe, it’s not about Forthsky Padrigao, but we have the respect on each other. Even sa mga coaches din, that’s how they mold us and believe in us na mentally tough talaga kami after nung four-game losing streak,” Cabañero said.
Cabañero led UST with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding five rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Akowe recorded another double-double with 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 16 rebounds, along with one block.
Crisostomo bounced back from a two-point outing against UP with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, while Padrigao contributed 11 points, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal. Acido rounded out UST’s balanced scoring with 10 points, seven rebounds, and one steal.
In a match with Final Four implications, UST will face Ateneo this Saturday, November 15, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
For the Red Warriors, the loss extended their winless streak to 18 games dating back to the second round of Season 87, leaving them 0-12 this season. Team captain John Abate missed his second straight game and is out for the rest of the season with a nasal fracture.
Wello Lingolingo led UE with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Dylan Despi added 17 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Nigerian center Precious Momowei contributed a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, plus two assists, one steal, and one block. Jhon Jimenez chipped in 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, four rebounds, and two steals.
With two games remaining, the Red Warriors will continue their search for an elusive victory against Final Four-bound National University at the same venue.
The Scores:
UST (109) – Cabañero 19, Akowe 16, Crisostomo 14, Padrigao 11, Acido 10, Paranada 7, Llemit 6, Estacio 5, Buenaflor 5, Calum 4, Manding 3, Bangco 2, Laure 2, Bucsit 0.
UE (97) – Lingolingo 18, Despi 17, Momowei 17, Jimenez 15, Lagat 13, Cruz-Dumont 9, Datumalim 7, Distrito 1, Tañedo 0, Mulingtapang 0, Malaga 0, Robles 0.
Quarterscores: 33-16, 57-41, 87-67, 109-97
