Coming off two straight routs, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers unleashed a flurry on the University of the East Red Warriors, picking up an impressive 80-66 wire-to-wire win, Saturday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
UST snapped its three-game losing skid — including crushing losses to the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the DLSU Green Archers by an average margin of 29.5 points per game. The Growling Tigers go up to 2-4.
“We played well. Yung mga bata relaxed, hindi masyadong pressured sa mga ginagawa. Yung nilalaro dun sa ensayo namin, nailabas yung laro dito. Binibiro nga ni coach McJour [Luib] yung mga bata na hindi natin ma-rerequest sa UAAP na magka-home game,” quipped first-year UST head coach Aldin Ayo. “Nabanggit namin sa mga bata na yung last two games namin, we were not playing basketball. I just told the boys to go back to the basics.
“Against Ateneo and La Salle nagkaproblema kami sa box out. Ang dami naming pinamigay na rebounds at second chance points. Hanggang sa screens nagkaproblema kami. Sinemplahan lang namin ngayon. Hindi na nga ako naglagay ng pointers sa whiteboard. Naging relax yung mga bata,” he added.
Wanting to have a good game that ended up with a victory, UST’s super rookie CJ Cansino played inspired basketball, finishing with 17 points and 17 rebounds. At the end of the first half, the UAAP Season 80 Juniors Basketball Most Valuable Player had already tallied a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
“Masaya kasi pinaghandaan talaga namin ito. Sobrang down kami last two games, hindi namin alam kung paano kami babawi. Maganda yung mga practices namin pero hindi nakukuha yung panalo. Ngayon, nakuha na namin,” said Cansino.
With Cansino pushing the pace, the Growling Tigers started the game on a blistering note, leading by as much as 16 points in the opening half. Marvin Lee scored all nine of his points in the first 20 minutes of hte game as well.
Behind a huge third quarter by Alvin Pasaol, the Red Warriors would cut the lead down to as low as seven points, 49-42, with 3:57 left in the quarter. Renzo Subido though heated up to buck the Red Warriors. UST would lead by as much as 21 points.
Subido had 22 points in the game.
Moreover, the Growling Tigers knocked down 16 triples in the contest — three more than their total in their last two games.
UE, who are coming off a 90-65 win over the FEU Tamaraws last Sunday, dropped to the bottom of the standings with a 1-5 slate.
Alvin Pasaol had his usual numbers of 32 points and 15 rebounds. However, he did not get any support.
“Yung kay Alvin Pasaol, may gameplan kami pero hindi gaano na-execute dahil one day practice lang kami. Buti yung sa other players na execute namin,” disclosed Cansino.
Jason Varilla, who had 17 points on five triples against FEU, was limited to just nine points on 1-for-7 shooing from downtown. Philip Manalang, who finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds in that same game, only had eight points and three assists.
UST plays its final game of the round when it faces the UP Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, October 10 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. UE, on the other hand, looks to end its first round run on a high note when it takes on the NU Bulldogs on Saturday, October 13 at the same venue.
The Scores:
UST 80 – Subido 22, Cansino 17, Lee 9, Huang 9, Marcos 6, Zamora 6, Mahinay 5, Caunan 4, Bataller 2, Cosejo 0, Agustin 0, Lagumen 0
UE 66 – Pasaol 32, Varilla 9, Manalang 8, Bartolome 4, Acuno 3, Conner 2, Beltran 2, Maloles 2, Lacap 2, Gallardo 2, Cullar 0, Antiporda 0, Gagate 0
Quarterscores: 23-17, 39-23, 60-43, 80-66
