UAAP: UST wallops NU 83-72; posts 3rd straight win

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers walloped the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 83-72, in the first game of the 70th University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament before an overflow crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. The win improved the Tigers' win loss-record to 3-2, good for third place in the men’s standings. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, suffered its first back-to-back losses and slid into fifth place with a 2-3 win loss record. Rookie guard/forward Khasim Mirza was named the best player after he scored a quiet eight points, four rebounds and two assists for the Espana-based cagers. After a close first half, the third quarter saw UST making a big run courtesy of baskets coming from point guard Japs Cuan, 6'5" center Jervy Cruz and forward Dylan Ababou, to take a 53-48 advantage with six minutes left in the third period. The Bulldogs, however, managed to trim the Tigers' lead to just three points at 57-54 after they outscored the defending champions 15-5 in the last six minutes of the third period. The Bulldogs, with prolific scorer Jonathan Fernandez leading the way, managed to make the game close due to more free throw conversions compared to the Tigers. The Bulldogs then jumped the gun on the Tigers at the start of the fourth as they tied the ballgame at 57-all, only the fourth deadlock of the game. Mirza then broke the tie with a big jumper to spark a 20-11 run highlighted by three-points baskets by Ababou to take a 77-68 lead with under three minutes left in the game. But a 3-0 spurt highlighted by MVP candidate Edwin Asoro’s freebie and a fast-break lay-up cut the Tigers' lead to just five at 77-72 with under two minutes left, forcing coach Alfredo 'Pido' Jarencio to call a time-out. UST's next play saw Anthony Espiritu missing on a jumper with NU getting the defensive board. But Cuan was there to make a quick steal and passed the ball to Mark Canlas who scored on a jumper to up UST's lead to seven at 79-72. The Bulldogs' never recovered from there as they suffered from turn-overs and repeated misses from the three point line to the dismay of Coach Manny Dandan. Cruz, who was not his usual dominating self, sealed NU's doom with an open lay-up to make the count at 83-72. He finished the game with a season low of nine points and nine rebounds. UST led at the half at 57-54 due to more rebounds, 28-18. The Bulldogs never led in the game. As of posting time, archrivals De La Salle University (DLSU) and the Ateneo de Manila (ADMU) Blue Eagles were battling in the main game of a UAAP double-header. Both the Green Archers and the Eagles are tied at second place with a 3-1 win loss record. - GMANews.TV