UST fails to avenge first-round loss from UE
By Joie Frances Timbas
The UST Growling Tigers sustained their losing skid at the hands of UE Red Warriors, 51–81, in the second round of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament, Wednesday noon at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena.
This is UST’s seventh consecutive loss after winning their first game against Adamson during opening day.
The Tigers also fell against the Red Warriors during the first round.
The lopsided loss consisted of turnovers and low-scoring outputs from the boys in black and gold.
From the opening salvo, UST allowed 25 points from the Warriors and they only answered with 14 points.
In the second quarter, the Tigers scored nine points while allowing UE to more than twice of their output, 20. They reached halftime with the score, 23–45.
Despite a break during halftime, the Tigers could not catch one or regain any momentum as they only managed to match the scoring output of their opponent. Both teams scored 15 in the third, 36–60.
In the final quarter, the Tigers’ chase even furthered. The lopsided match ended with a 30-point blowout, 51–81.
UE’s win was thanks to the hot shooting of CJ Payawal and Luis Villegas. Payawal notched 17 points and shot 6/13 from the field while Villegas’ efficiency emerged as he scored 16 points with 6/8 from the field. Villegas only missed from the three-point line in this game.
For UST, only foreign student-athlete player Adama Faye nabbed a double digit output with 23 points. Nic Cabañero had a tough game today with only contributing seven points, despite being the third highest scoring player from UST in the game. Miguel Pangilinan is second with eight points.
The Tigers hope to get back in the winning column as they will face the lone team that they defeated during the second round, Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday, November 5, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The scores:
UE 81 — Payawal 17, Villegas 16, Tulabut 8, Sawat 6, Antiporda 6, N. Paranada 6, Remogat 5, K. Paranada 4, Stevens 4, Pagsanjan 3, Beltran 3, Guevarra 3, Abatayo 0, Langit 0.
UST 51 — Faye 23, Pangilinan 8, Cabanero 7, Manalang 4, Manaytay 4, Escobido 2, Lazarte 2, Valentin 1, Calimag 0, Garing 0, Gesalem 0, Duremdes 0.
Quarters: 25–14, 45–23, 60–36, 81–51.
