UAAP: Rookie Reggie Basibas sparks UST past UP

Rookie Reggie Basibas provided the spark off the bench to lift University of Santo Tomas past University of the Philippines, 77-65, in the second round of the UAAP 77 men's basketball tournament on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

 

Basibas finished with a double-double performance of 16 points and 17 rebounds, while steady performer Karim Abdul added 21 and 12. Aljon Mariano and Louie Vigil added 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Growling Tigers.

 

UST improved to a 5-5 card to keep its hopes for a final four bid alive, while UP absorbed its ninth loss in 10 outings.

 

Mikee Reyes pulled off another strong game with 22 points for UP, while team captain Moriah Gingerich and rookie Diego Dario added nine points each.

 

UP suffered a big blow after coach Rey Madrid was ejected from the game with 17 seconds left in the first quarter over a non-call constant complaining about a non-call on a heavily-defended Diego Dario drive to the basket.

 

Despite their coach's absence, the Fighting Maroons remained in striking distance for most of the game. They scored the first eight points of the third quarter, with six coming from Gingerich, to give UP the lead, 37-36.

 

The Fighting Maroons were still ahead, 53-51, with a minute left in the third period, before Aljon Mariano's three-pointer at the buzzer swung the momentum back in UST's favor going into the final quarter.

 

The fourth quarter was all UST as Mariano, Basibas, and Abdul continued to torch the Maroons. Basibas nailed a three-pointer as the Tigers pulled away for good, 63-54, with a dunk by Abdul in the dying seconds putting the exclamation point on the win. — JST, GMA News