MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers rode on the career game of Nicael Cabañero and defeated Adamson University Falcons, 69-60, in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Cabañero tallied 33 points while hitting 13 of his 18 shot attempts. Adama Faye hauled 15 rebounds to go with six points, two assists, two steals and two blocks to give debuting Growling Tigers head coach Bal David a winning start.
Cabañero waxed hot early with a string of points. UST surged to a 13-10 lead. Adamson rallied back before the Growling Tigers regained a 23-18 lead via conversions from Miguel Pangilinan.
The Growling Tigers were able to widen the lead to nine points in the second period following an outside conversion from Cabañero but the Falcons clawed its way back to within 38-42 at the half.
Both teams, however, struggled in the third quarter with a combined 14 turnovers but UST regained its offense in the fourth period behind Cabañero for their largest lead of 10 points.
Lenda Douanga finished with double-double 13 points and 13 rebounds, Joshua Yerro added 13 markers, while Jerom Lastimosa and Didat Hanapi ended with 10 each for the Falcons.
In the second game, defending champions University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons overcame an early deficit to score a 72-69 victory over De La Salle University Green Archers.
Trailing for most of the contest, the Fighting Maroons went on a massive fourth quarter rally behind Carl Tamayo, Brix Ramos and James Spencer to take a 70-64 advantage.
The Green Archers responded with five straight points, including a triple from Evan Nelle, to cut the deficit to 69-70 with three seconds left. Tamayo iced the win for the Fighting Maroons with two freebies.
Tamayo tallied with double-double 18 points and 19 rebounds, while Terrence Fortea chipped in 15 points and nine assists as the Fighting Maroons began its title-retention bid on a winning note.
BOX SCORE:
UST 69 — Cabanero 33, Manaytay 7, Pangilinan 6, Faye 6, Garing 5, Mantua 4, Calimag 3, Herrera 2, Duremdes 2, Manalang 1, Lazarte 0, Magdangal 0, Laure 0.
ADAMSON 60 — Douanga 13, Yerro 13, Lastimosa 10, Hanapi 10, Sabandal 9, V. Magbuhos 3, Barcelona 2, Colonia 0, Manzano 0, Flowers 0, Barasi 0, Torres 0, Manlapaz 0, Jaymalin 0.
Quarterscores: 23-18, 42-38, 48-42, 69-60. /PN
