Tigers stay in losing column after UP’s second-half blast
By Joie Frances Timbas
The UST Growling Tigers fell to their 11th consecutive loss at the hands of the UP Fighting Maroons, 60–78, in the second round of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament, Wednesday afternoon at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena.
In the opening frame, being down 5–13, a trey from Miguel Pangilinan stopped the bleeding. Main man Nic Cabañero’s first field goal came late with three minutes left to play. The Tigers were able to snatch the lead, 16–15.
In the next one, the Tigers started out cold as Adama Faye’s layup by the sixth-minute mark was their first field goal of the second quarter. As halftime reached, the boys from Espana trailed behind by three, 34–37.
After the halftime break, the Fighting Maroons held onto their momentum right to the end of the game.
JD Cagulangan and James Spencer nailed their respective threes to further their lead after Cabañero’s return to the game despite a scary fall. UP kept their offense flowing while UST couldn’t keep up to end the third, 49–59.
In the final frame, it was uneventful as the defending champions closed out the Tigers, 60–78. A Richi Calimag trey within the dying seconds averted a 21-point defeat.
UP’s win was thanks to Carl Tamayo’s 19 points, Cyril Gonzales with 14, and Malick Diouf with 10, on top of 10 rebounds.
For UST, Cabañero was on his usual form leading the Tigers with 14 points, and big man Faye had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Scores:
UP 78 — Tamayo 19, Gonzales 14, Diouf 10, Cagulangan 8, Lucero 6, Abadiano 4, Galinato 4, Spencer 3, Ramos 3, Calimag 3, Alarcon 2, Torculas 2, Lina 0, Eusebio 0, Andrews 0.
UST 60 — Cabañero 14, Faye 12, Calimag 7, Pangilinan 6, Manalang 6, Laure 4, Mantua 4, Manaytay 3, Magdangal 2, Garing 2, Herrera 0, Escobido 0, Gesalem 0.
Quarter Scores: 15–16, 37–34, 59–49, 78–60.
