Tigers blow 19-point lead against Adamson, succumb to eighth straight defeat
By Ernest Martin Tuazon
The UST Growling Tigers gave away a 19-point cushion against a Jerom Lastimosa-less Adamson squad to fall to their eighth straight loss, 55–56, Saturday afternoon, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
In Lastimosa’s absence, it was Adamson’s Cedrick Manzano who shined bright, being able to hit the go-ahead AND1 conversion with 7.1 seconds left.
On the other end, Jamba Garing missed a jumper that would have snapped UST’s seven-game skid.
All things looked like a win for the Growling Tigers as Nic Cabañero made three triples in the third salvo, capped off by a Garing long-bomb, to give UST a 19-point lead, 47–28.
However, this sparked the Falcons’ 28–8 heist as they finished the third quarter with a 12–3 run courtesy of Manzano’s eight points in the frame, 50–40.
The Tigers were able to only score five points in the final salvo compared to Adamson’s 16, with a three from team captain Paul Manalang and a layup from Garing which came at the 4:19 mark, 55–48.
The Soaring Falcons held Cabañero scoreless for the entire fourth quarter as the UST star was able to produce 22 points in the earlier salvos.
Adama Faye, who had 23 points in UST’s 30-point loss against UE last Wednesday, only scored three points on 1-of-9 shooting (11.1 percent) to go along with 16 rebounds and five blocks.
Cabañero did not receive substantial help from his teammates as he was the lone Tiger who notched double-figures with 22 points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block.
The Growling Tigers have ample time to regroup as the UAAP will be taking a 11-day break for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers.
UST looks to rebound from a heart-breaking defeat as they clash against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Nov. 17, Thursday evening, at the same venue.
The scores:
Adamson (56) — Manzano 19, Douanga 9, Torres 8, Jaymalin 6, Colonia 4, Sabandal 4, Barasi Jr. 4, Yerro 2, Hanapi 0, Flowers 0, Fuentebella, 0
UST (55) — Cabañero 22, Pangilinan 9, Manaytay 6, Manalang 5, Garing 5, Faye 3, Calimag 3, Duremdes 2, Lazarte 0, Gesalem 0, Mantua 0, Escubido 0, Herrera 0
Quarter Scores: 17–11, 31–19, 50–40, 55–56
