The UST Tomas Growling Tigers routed the UE Red Warriors, 97-70, in the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
UST took control right away, racing to a 35-19 lead after the first quarter, with Peter Osang scoring 9 points in his UAAP debut. The Growling Tigers led 58-41 at halftime and kept pulling away in the second half, stretching the lead to as many as 31 points.
“Every game for us is like a do-or-die already,” said UST assistant coach Peter Martin. “We know that one loss will spell the season for the UST men’s basketball team.”
Amiel Acido led the Growling Tigers with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Osang posted a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Landyn Jumawan added 16 points. Mark Llemit had 11 points and 7 rebounds, and Koji Buenaflor chipped in 10 points and 8 rebounds.
For UE, Toper Lagat finished with 22 points, while Drew Jimenez contributed 10 points and 6 rebounds.
Precious Jonah Powers Adamson Past Ateneo
Later that day, the Adamson Soaring Falcons beat the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 62-55, to end a four-game losing streak.
Adamson led 28-25 at halftime and built its biggest lead, 47-34, late in the third quarter. Ateneo, playing without head coach Louie Alas, who was serving a two-game suspension, fought back early in the fourth, and Sultan Baruwa’s free throw cut the deficit to five, 49-44, with 7:53 left.
The Soaring Falcons answered. Precious Jonah hit a three to make it 54-46 with 5:28 remaining, and Manu Anabo followed with a three and a free throw to push the lead to 58-48 with 3:44 left. Ateneo never got closer than 7 points the rest of the way.
“Almost a month of not winning, no? For a while, I thought masi-zero kami sa second round. It was a tough one against Ateneo. Buti na lang,” said Adamson head coach Nash Racela.
Jonah, who returned from a right leg injury, led Adamson with a double-double of 11 points and 17 rebounds.
For Ateneo, Shawn Tuano finished with 11 points.
UST will next face Ateneo on Sunday, November 15, at 5:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Earlier that day, at 2:30 p.m., Adamson will face the La Salle Green Archers.
Meanwhile, UE will next face the NU Bulldogs on Saturday, November 14, at 2:30 p.m. at the same venue.
