UST extends UE struggles

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Standings

*DLSU 11-1

*UP 9-2

UE 6-6

UST 6-7

FEU 5-8

AdU 4-7

NU 4-8

Ateneo 3-9

Games on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum

8 a.m. - FEU-D vs Adamson (JHS)

10 a.m. - AdU vs NU (Women)

12 p.m. - DLSU vs UP (Women)

2 p.m. - AdU vs NU (Men)

6:30 p.m. - DLSU vs UP (Men)

University of Santo Tomas repulsed University of the East’s spirited rally in the fourth to grab the 76-67 win and keep its grip of the fourth spot in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

The Growling Tigers hiked their record to 6-7 to strengthen their hold of the fourth spot, now a game ahead of fifth-running Far Eastern University at 5-8.

UST also dragged UE to its third straight loss, dropping to 6-6, still at third spot but with the Growling Tigers just half a game behind.

This victory by UST also eliminated Ateneo de Manila University from Final Four contention for the first time since Season 76 (2013).

“Yung mga players hindi bumigay until the end. Naging consistent kami. Syempre meron ding run ang UE pero kami naman we’re focused especially last two games namin kasi magdidictate ito kung makakapasok kami sa Final Four,” said Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio.

Despite being down by as much as 27 in the first half, 14-41, the Red Warriors kept fighting back.

A significant moment happened at the 5:13 mark of the fourth quarter when Nigerian center Precious Momowei was ejected quarter after incurring two unsportsmanlike fouls to the dislike of him and the entire UE group.

His first infraction came at the 5:18 mark of the second frame when Momowei inadvertently elbowed Mo Tounkara to the face after a layup that caused the latter’s nose to bleed.

Then the second infraction also had the UE big man inadvertently hitting Gelo Crisostomo’s right eye with his elbow after a layup that caused it to bleed as well.

That fiasco turned out to be an energy boost for the Red Warriors as Jack Cruz-Dumont and Rainer Maga linked up for nine unanswered points that brought their side within five with 2:48 left, 64-69.

But Cabañero and Christian Manaytay provided the answer for UST to escape with the important win.

“I-absorb lang namin itong panalo na ito tapos kapag bukas, focus na kami sa next game namin. Hindi pa tapos ‘yung placing sa Final Four,” said Cabañero, who had a personal season-high 27 points to go with eight rebounds.

Crisostomo added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Christian Manaytay had 10 points and seven rebounds in the victory.

The Growling Tigers completed a head-to-head elimination round sweep of the Red Warriors for the first time since 2019.

UST will close its elimination round campaign next Saturday against Adamson University, which it lost by 13 points in the first round, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Cruz-Dumont paced the Red Warriors with 19 points, while Wello Lingolingo and Devin Fikes chimed in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Momowei was limited to just six points on six shots and 10 rebounds while committing six turnovers.

The Scores:

UST 76 – Cabañero 27, Crisostomo 14, Manaytay 10, Padrigao 7, Tounkara 7, Danting 5, Paranada 3, Pangilinan 2, Llemit 1, Acido 0, Estacio 0.

UE 67 – J. Cruz-Dumont 19, Lingolingo 13, Fikes 12, Maga 9, Momowei 6, Wilson 3, Spandonis 3, Malaga 2, Galang 0, Abate 0, H. Cruz-Dumont 0, Mulingtapang 0.

Quarterscores: 22-11, 48-28, 60-45, 76-67