The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, this season’s hosts, ended their forgettable season the same way it started, with a loss.
The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles handed UST their 11th loss of the season, 74-64, to extend their winning streak to five games, Saturday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
As mentioned, UST ends their season with 11 losses — the most losses the Growling Tigers experienced in the Final Four-era.
Big man Isaac Go continued his spectacular run, leading the Blue Eagles with 15 points to go along with four rebounds. Sophomore Mike Nieto notched his collegiate career-high with 13 points and six rebounds.
“I’m a little disappointed. I’m happy to win the game, happy that our second round looks good on paper, but it’s not an efficient game,” Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin remarked about the slow first half the team had.
The Blue Eagles were able to break away early in the final quarter. A shot clock-beating triple by Mike Nieto triggered an 11-5 rally. A rare four-point play by Anton Asistio and free throws by Adrian Wong, Nieto, and Go gave Ateneo the biggest lead of the game, 74-64, with 6.8 ticks remaining.
“For us, we want our game to be more characterized by better defense. Credit to UST, because they wanted a good fight and they did,” the American-Kiwi mentor said.
“We’re happy to get the win, but I think we need to play better basketball than today and I think the boys know that.”
Louie Vigil, who played his last UAAP game, was the only Growling Tiger to score in double-figures. He finished the game with 14 points but fouled out of the game with 1:52 left.
Fellow senior Jon Sheriff had nine points and seven rebounds.
The Blue Eagles shot 45 percent from the field compared to 37 percent for the Growling Tigers. Moreover, they out-rebounded UST 50 to 33 that led to a 12 to 5.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles (9-4) will play its final game of the season on Wednesday, November 16 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
ADMU (74) – Go 15, Nieto Mi 13, Tolentino 11, Asistio 6, Wong 5, ikeh 5, Black 5, Verano 5, Mendoza 4, Ravena 3, Nieto Ma 2, Ildefonso 0, Porter 0.
UST (64) – Vigil 14, Lee 9, Sheriff 9, Faundo 8, Macasaet 8, De Guzman 8, Subido 3, Lao 3, Afoakwah 2, Huang 0, Caunan 0, Basibas 0, Arana 0.
Quarterscores: 16-15, 38-36, 58-53, 74-64.
