After three straight blowout losses, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers finally entered the win column, taking a 63-55 win over the struggling University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA Altas, Sunday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
“Tinatry lang namin yung best namin. Mahirap kung ma-0-4 ka, mahirap maka-recover,” said UST assistant coach Tylon Dar Juan, who is sitting for the recovering coach Boy Sablan. “Mabibigat ang mga kalaban namin sa next game, at least nagkaka-kumpiyansa na kami.”
The loss dropped Perpetual to a 1-2 slate in Group A.
Steve Akomo played his best game in the Premier Cup, scoring 11 points on 5-for-12 shooting, to go along with 18 rebounds and a block. The transferee from University of Visayas, however, committed nine turnovers.
“Halos rookie yung buong team namin kaya malaking bagay ito sa amin,” Dar Juan furthered about the young Growling Tigers.
After limiting the Altas to just seven third quarter points to take a 44-34 lead to enter the final frame, UST was able to ramp it up, taking a game-high 14 point lead, 53-39, with 6:56 remaining. Baskets by Christian Garcia and Zachary Huang powered UST during that 9-2 rally.
Perpetual though did not go down easily, managing to cut the lead down to just six, 55-61 with 35 ticks left, after two booming triples by Jack Hao. However, an emphatic dunk by Akomo stopped all hopes of an upset.
Carlo Escalambre chipped in 10 points while Jordan Sta. Ana filled-up the stat sheet with three points, five rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
“Si Jordan, talagang masipag kahit sa ensayo. Blessing din sa kanya na nandito siya,” Dar Juan said about the transferee from the University of the East.
Gab Dagangon with 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting to go along with six rebounds. AJ Coronel and Flash Sadiwa chipped in eight markers apiece.
UST will next face the unbeaten JRU Heavy Bombers on Sunday, May 28 at 3:15pm. Perpetual, on the other hand, will face the same team on Friday, May 26 at 3:15pm.
The Scores:
UST (65) – Akomo 11, Escalambre 10, De Guzman 9, Huang 9, Garcia 9, Caunan 4, Macasaet 4, Jordan 3, Faundo 2, Garrido 2, Basibas 0, Cano 0
UPHSD (55) – Dagangon 11, Coronel 8, Sadiwa 8, Pido 7, Lucente 7, Ylagan 6, Hao 6, Singontiko 2, Mangalino 0, Casas 0
Quarterscores: 12-13, 27-27, 44-34, 63-55
