UST officially out of Final Four race, falters late to NU
By Rob Andrew Lo Dongiapon
Losing gas when it mattered the most, the UST Growling Tigers wasted a solid start, wavering to a 57–67 defeat in the hands of the NU Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Basketball tournament held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers last led at 52–54 in the final period, before misfiring the rest of the way as NU unleashed a 15–3 surge to close the game out.
With the win, the Bulldogs booked its ticket to the Final Four after seven years of missing the postseason, while UST sank even further at a 1–10 standing which now eliminates them from semifinal contention.
The Tigers were on pace for an upset in the early stages of the game as UST’s offense clicked on a 42% field-goal clip in the first half, from which the España-based squad found themselves leading by as much as 11 points.
It went downhill from there.
Nic Cabañero once again was the anchor of the losing effort with 20 points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes of play while foreign student-athlete Adama Faye backed him up with 11 markers and 15 boards in 35 minutes.
The two were noticeably gassed continuing down the stretch as the Tigers played the final three minutes on a hapless note.
Veteran Bulldog John Lloyd Clemente lifted NU past UST with 19 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the three-point range while Omar John scored 12 and former Tiger Kean Baclaan delivered 10 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
UST will face the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, 11:00 a.m., at the same venue, to snap the now double-digit skid.
The Scores
NU (67) — Clemente 19, John 12, Baclaan 10, Malonzo 6, Manansala 6, Palacielo 4, Figueroa 4, Enriquez 3, Galinato 3,
UST (57) — Cabañero 20, Faye 11, Pangilinan 8, Garing 6, Calimag 5, Manaytay 4, Duremdes 3.
Quarter Scores: 20–11, 36–29, 44–46, 57–67
