Tiger Cubs’ late run goes for naught against top-seeded NSNU
By Ernest Martin Tuazon
The UST Tiger Cubs’ (3–5) fourth-quarter run was rubbed out late by the NSNU Bullpups (7–1) to open the second round of the UAAP Season 85 high school boys basketball tournament, 64–71, Wednesday afternoon, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Tiger Cubs trailed by as much as 19 points in the early minutes of the payoff period, 44–63, but UST sparked a 15–0 run to cut the Bullpups’ lead to four with five minutes and change remaining in the contest, 59–63.
UST last creeped in within four markers in the second period, 25–29, but later on fell victim to an 13–1 run of NSNU to trail by 16 at the half, 26–42.
UST’s JP Pangilinan and Charles Bucsit nailed back-to-back triples to begin the University’s late heist, and ended the spark with Mark Llemit’s six straight markers and Regie Ayon’s two free throws.
With all the momentum heading towards Espana, NSNU bigman Aga Clarito proved his interior dominance with four straight baskets inside the paint to extend the Bullpups’ lead to nine with 45 seconds remaining, 62–71.
Three late turnovers within the last two minutes of the game erased the Tiger Cubs’ hopes of a comeback from Llemit and Ayon, respectively.
Through out the first three quarters, the Tiger Cubs absorbed 16-point deficits which made it difficult for them to successfully mount a comeback: 11–27, 26–42, and 42–58.
Llemit continued his stellar performance for UST with a double-double of 23 points and 13 boards, while Pangilinan and Bucsit combined for 20 markers with 11 and nine, respectively.
The Tiger Cubs look to repeat over the UE Junior Red Warriors, with their previous win coming from the squad in Recto, in hopes to notch their first win of the second round on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the same venue.
The Scores:
NU (71) — Jumamoy 16, Clarito 15, Tagotongan 14, Colonia 13, Perciano 8, Yusi 5.
UST (64) — Llemit 23, Pangilinan 11, Bucsit 9, Ayon 6, Zanoria 6, Esteban 5, Manding 4
Quarter Scores: 11–27, 26–42, 42–58, 64–71
