UST defeats UP, 76-68

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers unleashed their claws and teeth when they devoured Saturday the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 76-68, in the main game of the 70th University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament before a full house crowd at the Ninoy Aquino stadium in Manila. After a 0-2 start, the Tigers’ campaign is now back on track as they recorded their second straight victory for the season to move at fourth place in the men’s basketball standings in a tie with the NU Bulldogs. UST is only behind the undefeated De La Salle Green Archers and the University of the East (UE) Warriors, who both have a 3-0 win-loss record and Ateneo which has a 3-1 card. Francis Allera, who did not see action in the first two games of the season but came alive in UST’s big win over the Adamson Falcons last Thursday, delivered the points once again for the Tigers after he scored 10 points and seven rebounds, earning him the best player nod. Though sitting most of the game due to foul trouble, Cruz was also instrumental for the game after he tallied eight points and 13 rebounds. He fouled out with still three minutes left in the fourth. Cruz’ last two points was the most crucial, especially after the Fighting Maroons, behind the small-forward tandem of Woody Co and Veejay Serios, cut the Tigers lead to just five points with under a minute left. Prior to Co and Serios’s explosion, UST was leading by 12 at 72-60 going to the last two minutes. After a timeout by coach Pido Jarencio, Anthony Espiritu, who erupted for 10 points in the third canto, missed on a driving lay-up but Cruz was there to get the rebound and score on a follow-up to increase UST’s lead to seven at 75-68, 40 seconds left The next play saw Serios missing on his hard drive with UST getting the ball. Dylan Ababou, who also had a terrific game, converted one of his two attempts from the charity stripe to make the score at 76-68. After a timeout by UST, UP coach Joe Lipa mapped out a plan where they can score quickly from the three-point shot but their attempt after the break was foiled. UST, in its next possession, milked the clock down as they notched their second straight victory. Co and Serios led the Fighting Maroons in the scoring and rebounding department with a combined 35 points and 27 rebounds but their efforts went for naught as their team succumbed to its fourth straight defeat in the tourney. Ababou also contributed well for the España-based dribblers with 15 points, nine rebounds, one assist and one steal. UP has its biggest lead of the ball at seven, 13-6, under three minutes left in the first quarter when the Tigers, behind the sniping of Jun Cortez and Allera, suddenly came alive to tie the game at 13-apiece with under a minute left. Both teams traded baskets from there to end the first quarter. UST led at the half with a score of 43-35 after they shot better from field shooting 18 out of 50 compared to UP’s 9 out of 31. The assists department also was in the Tigers’ favor with seven against UP’s three. UP, however, has more rebounds with 36 compared to UST’s 29. The third quarter saw both teams’ scoring on spurts but UST managed to still get the upper hand with good shooting from the outside and more transition baskets. The score in the third was 62-51, in favor of the Tigers. At the start of the fourth quarter, UP threatened at 63-56 with under seven minutes left in the game but Ababou and Allera scattered seven straight points to increased UST lead’s to 15, 70-56. UST’s victory against the Maroons was their first against the Diliman based squad since the 68th season. UST and UP met twice last year with the Fighting Maroons walking out victorious in both games – a 94-92 victory in the first round and a 90-87 decision in the second round. Meanwhile, UAAP basketball hostilities resume on Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome with the FEU Tamaraws (1-2) hoping to bounce back from a sorry loss to La Salle last Thursday as they battle the winless Adamson Falcons (0-3) at 2 p.m. The main game will be the battle of the undefeated squads as De La Salle (3-0) going up against the UE Red Warriors (4-0) at 4 p.m. Quarter-scores: 15 all, 43-35, 62-51, 76-68 - GMANews.TV