MANILA – Builders Warehouse-UST Growling Tigers finally entered the win-column of the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup with a 150-79 rout of AMA Online Education Titans on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Sherwin Concepcion posted triple-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, Kean Baclaan had double-double 11 points and 11 assists as the Growling Tigers notched its first win in five matches.
Nicael Cabañero top-scored with 19 points, Willie Wilson, Angelo Crisostomo and Aklanon Christian Manaytay had 18, 15 and 13, respectively, while Royce Mantua and Ian Herrera had 10 each for UST.
The Tigers were scorching to start the game with a 13-0 start behind Cabañero, Baclaan and Miguel Pangilinan. Inside conversions by Manaytay widened the lead further for UST at 36-17.
The Titans threatened to within 23-36 but the Tigers regained its shooting with outside conversions from Concepcion and Bryan Santos and inside hits by Wilson for a 72-34 halftime edge.
Builder Warehouse-UST went for the kill in the third with consecutive hits from Cabañero and Crisostomo and outside shots by Vincent Escobido for its largest lead of 77 points.
Reed Baclig and Arthur Pineda finished with 13 markers apiece, while David Cruz added 11 markers as the Titans remained win-less in six games.
In the other match, Kevin Quiambao came up with clutch conversions as EcoOil-La Salle Green Archers (4-2) escaped with a 72-69 victory over Adalem-St. Clare Saints (3-3).
Trailing 68-69 with under a minute left, the Green Archers tied the score via a split free throw from Anfernee Estacio before Quiambao surged his team ahead at 71-69 with a perimeter basket.
Quimbao then stole the ball away from Saints’ Jherald Manacho that led to the former’s split free throw for a 72-69 Green Archers’ lead. Adalem-St. Clare’s Johnsherick Estrada then missed his game-tying trey attempt.
Quiambao finished the game with 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Joaqui Manuel and Cyrus Austria contributed 11 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Green Archers.
BOX SCORE:
UST 150 — Cabañero 19, Wilson 18, Crisostomo 15, Concepcion 14, Manaytay 13, Baclaan 11, Mantua 10, Herrera 10, Pangilinan 9, Gesalem 9, Santos 7, Escobido 6, Stevens 4, Manalang 3, Canoy 2.
AMA 79 — Baclig 13, Pineda 13, D. Cruz 11, Malones 7, Villamor 6, Kapunan 5, De Vera 5, Gile 5, Palaña 3, Yambao 3, Camay 3, K. Cruz 2, Ceniza 2, R. Cruz 1, Fuentes 0.
Quarterscores: 36-20, 72-34, 117-60, 150-79./PN
