UST pulls away from FEU late, wins third in a row

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers picked up their third consecutive victory as they defeated the FEU Tamaraws, 92-80, in the first round of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Kyle Paranada led UST with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field while Nic Cabanero and Gelo Crisostomo chipped in with 14 points apiece.

Collins Akowe posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Forthsky Padrigao added 11 markers for the Tigers, who improved to 5-1.

FEU was led by Janrey Pasaol, who finished with 22 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, and Mo Konateh, who added 19 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and four blocks. The Tamaraws dropped to 1-5.

The two teams mostly kept it close, going back and forth for most of the first three quarters.

But UST threatened to pull away in the fourth behind Paranada and Cabanero, who combined for all of the team’s points in a 15-5 run that gave the Tigers an 80-73 edge.

FEU’s Konateh and Pasaol, however, battled to bring the Tamaraws back to within two, 82-80, with just four minutes left to play.

But that would be as close as they would get as Crisostomo, who hit back-to-back triples, and Akowe put the finishing touches on the game with a 10-0 run.

Paranada finished with nine points in the fourth quarter while Cabanero chipped in with eight.

The scores:

UST 92 - Paranada 19, Cabanero 14, Crisostomo 14, Akowe 12, Padrigao 11, Llemit 7, Buenaflor 6, Danting 6, Acido 3, Calum 0, Bucsit 0, Manding 0, Banco 0, Sevilla 0, Laure 0.

FEU 80 - Pasaol 22, Konateh 19, Bautista 11, Mongcopa 11, Owens 8, Daa 3, Felipe 3, Salangsang 3, Jones 0, Macapagal 0, Ona 0, Bagunu 0.

Quarters: 25-21, 46-47, 63-62, 92-80.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News