MANILA – Rence “Forthsky” Padrigao made crucial go-ahead plays as University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers edged National University Bulldogs 67-64 in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball on Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the score tied at 64-all after UST’s Nicael Cabañero and NU’s Jolo Manansala exchanged triples, Padrigao hit a clutch jumper near the free-throw line to put the Tigers ahead 66-64.
Following two misses by the Bulldogs’ Jake Figueroa, Padrigao split his free throws to increase the Growling Tigers’ advantage to 67-64 with four seconds remaining in the contest.
Padrigao, who was hampered by foul trouble almost the entire game, finished with eight points, five assists, and four rebounds as the Growling Tigers improved to a 3-1 win-loss slate.
“Nagkataon lang din talaga kasi, few possessions back, talagang nagki-create ako para sa teammates ko and then come‘yung last possession na ‘yun, bigla sila nag-switch so ginawa ko lang ‘yung right thing and thank you Lord pumasok ‘yung tira,” said Padrigao.
Mohammed Tounkara tallied a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Christian Manaytay and Cabañero contributed 14 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Growling Tigers.
Down 53-60 after a basket from the Bulldogs’ Figueroa early in the fourth quarter, the Growling Tigers responded with baskets from Cabañero, Tounkara, and Padrigao to take a 61-60 advantage.
After a split free throw by NU’s Steve Nash Enriquez to tie the score at 61-all, Cabañero swung the lead to the Tigers with a triple, but the Bulldogs quickly tied it with a Manansala triple.
Enriquez tallied 17 points, including four three-point conversions, while Figueroa added 10 markers for the all-Filipino Bulldogs, which dropped to a 1-3 win-loss record with the loss.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (1-3) finally secured their first win after beating Adamson University Falcons (2-2), 60-51. Shawn Tuano top-scored for Ateneo with 11 points./PN
BOX SCORE:
UST 67 – Tounkara 15, Manaytay 14, Cabañero 10, Padrigao 8, Acido 5, Crisostomo 5, Paranada 4, Estacio 3, Pangilinan 3, Llemit 0, Robinson 0.
NU 64 – Enriquez 17, Figueroa 11, Lim 8, Padrones 6, Manansala 6, Perciano 6, Jumamoy 5, Garcia 3, Palacielo 2, Yu 0, Santiago 0, Francisco 0, Dela Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 16-16, 32-34, 48-52, 67-64.
